Antibody-providing kit, antibody-containing patch, method and device for immunoassay using the same

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to an immunoassay method for performing immunoassay by using a patch that contains antibodies. An immunoassay method according to an aspect of the present disclosure performs diagnosis by detecting a target protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch which includes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configured to contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, and includes placing the sample to be diagnosed in a reaction region, and providing an antibodies that react specifically with a target protein to the reaction region by using a patch that contains the antibodies.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an antibody-containing patch, a methodof and device for immunoassay using the same, and more particularly, toa patch that contains an antibody and a method and device for performingimmunoassay using the same for economically performing diagnosis usingan immunological characteristic from a sample and promptly acquiring aresult.

BACKGROUND ART

Due to a rapidly aging society and increasing need for quality of life,the diagnostic market which aims at early diagnosis and early treatmentis growing every year in the world, including South Korea, and quick andeasy diagnosis is becoming an important issue. In particular, forms ofdiagnosis are being transitioned into forms in which diagnosis can beperformed without using large diagnostic equipment, such as in-vitrodiagnosis (IVD) or point-of-care testing (POCT) which is immediatelyperformed next to a patient. Immunochemical diagnosis, which is onespecific diagnostic field for performing IVD, is one diagnostic methodthat accounts for a large portion in the IVD field and is widely used.

Immunochemical diagnosis, which is a collective term for diagnosisthrough clinical immunoassay and diagnosis through chemical analysis,uses an antigen-antibody reaction, and is used in diagnosing variousdiseases and monitoring tumor markers, allergies, and the like. Due to avariety of diseases that are detectable by immunochemical diagnosis andease of detection thereby, immunochemical diagnosis is evaluated as aform of diagnosis that is particularly suitable for POCT. Demand forsuch immunochemical diagnosis has been steadily increasing worldwide,and the increasing trend is particularly noticeable in China.

In a conventional immunoassay method, in a process in which an antibodyis applied to a specimen to detect an antigen that causes a diseasewhich is desired to be diagnosed, a washing process in which a largeamount of washing solution is poured to rinse a plate or the like inorder to remove unbound antibodies or other factors that interfere withthe detection is necessarily required. In this case, there is a problemthat a large amount of washing solution is wasted. Also, theconventional immunoassay method has disadvantages in that separateeffort is required for designing a region on which an antibody isapplied to increase an effective contact surface area between a fixatedantibody and an applied antigen, and the complexly-designed region alsoaffects detection of a reaction.

Accordingly, a means for effectively removing factors that interferewith detection while minimizing an amount of solution required fordiagnosis is needed. Also, provision of a reaction space thatfacilitates performance of diagnosis and allows a result to be easilydetected is needed.

SUMMARY

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch capable ofstoring a substance.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch capable ofproviding a reaction space for a substance.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch capable ofproviding a substance.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch capable ofabsorbing a substance.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch capable ofproviding an environment.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a patch that containsan antibody.

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide an immunoassay methodusing a patch.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided animmunoassay device for performing diagnosis by detecting a targetprotein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch which includes amesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configured to containa liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassay deviceincluding a plate supporter configured to support a plate on which areaction region is placed and a sample to be diagnosed is placed in thereaction region, a patch controller configured to use the patch, whichis configured to contain antibodies that react specifically with atarget protein, and control a position of the patch relative to thereaction region so that the antibodies are provided to the reactionregion, and a reaction detector configured to detect a specific reactionbetween the antibodies and the target protein to diagnose a targetdisease.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is providedan antibody-containing patch including antibodies that reactspecifically with a target protein, and a mesh structural body providedin a mesh structure forming micro-cavities in which the antibodies arecontained that is configured to come into contact with a reaction regionin which the target protein is placed and provide some of the containedantibodies to the reaction region.

The antibodies that react specifically with the target protein may beprimary antibodies which specifically bind to a target antigen.

The antibodies that react specifically with the target protein may besecondary antibodies which specifically bind to antibodies whichspecifically bind to a target antigen.

The target protein may be an antigen, the antibodies may be a pair ofantibodies formed by binding between a primary antibody whichspecifically binds to the antigen and a secondary antibody whichspecifically binds to the primary antibody, and the pair of antibodiesmay react specifically with the antigen.

Multiple target proteins may be present, the multiple target proteinsmay include a first target protein and a second target protein, and theantibodies may include a first antibody that reacts specifically withthe first target protein and a second antibody that reacts specificallywith the second target protein.

According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a patch cluster that includes a plurality ofantibody-containing patches, wherein the antibody-containing patchincludes antibodies that react specifically with a target protein and amesh structural body that forms micro-cavities in which the antibodiesare contained.

The plurality of antibody-containing patches may include a firstantibody-containing patch and a second antibody-containing patch, and atarget protein with which a first antibody contained in the firstantibody-containing patch reacts specifically may be different from atarget protein with which a second antibody contained in the secondantibody-containing patch reacts specifically.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided a substrate-containing patch including substrates that producea product through a chemical reaction that is catalyzed by an enzymeattached to an antibody that binds specifically to a target protein, anda mesh structural body provided in a mesh structure formingmicro-cavities in which the substrates are contained that is configuredto come into contact with a reaction region in which the target proteinis placed and provide some of the contained substrates to the reactionregion.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an immunoassay method of performing diagnosis by detecting atarget protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch whichincludes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configuredto contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassaymethod including placing the sample to be diagnosed in a reactionregion, and providing antibodies that react specifically with a targetprotein to the reaction region by using a patch that contains theantibodies.

The immunoassay method may further include providing a substrate, whichproduces a product through a chemical reaction catalyzed by an enzymeattached to the antibodies, to the reaction region by using a patch thatcontains the substrate.

The immunoassay method may further include detecting a specific reactionbetween the antibodies and the target protein to diagnose a targetdisease.

In this case, the detecting of the specific reaction may includedetecting the specific reaction by measuring a change in an electricalcharacteristic of the patch that occurs due to the specific reaction.

The detecting of the specific reaction may be performed by at least anyone of measuring fluorescence that occurs due to a chemical reactioncatalyzed by an enzyme attached to the antibodies that bind specificallyto the target protein, measuring luminescence that occurs due to thechemical reaction, and measuring color that develops due to the chemicalreaction.

The placing of the sample to be diagnosed may be performed by any one ofa method of fixating the sample to the plate, a method of smearing thesample on the plate, and a method of smearing the sample on the plateand fixating the sample.

The providing of the antibodies to the reaction region by using thepatch may include contacting the patch with the reaction region so thatthe antibodies are movable to the reaction region, and separating thepatch from the reaction region, wherein when the patch is separated fromthe reaction region, antibodies that have not reacted specifically withthe target protein from among the antibodies may be removed from thereaction region.

The immunoassay method may further include absorbing antibodies thathave not reacted specifically with the target protein from among theprovided antibodies from the reaction region by using a washing patch.

The providing of the antibodies to the reaction region by using thepatch may include using a first patch that contains a first antibodythat reacts specifically with the target protein to provide the firstantibody to the reaction region, and using a second patch that containsa second antibody that reacts specifically with the first antibody toprovide the second antibody to the reaction region.

In the immunoassay method, the reaction region may be located on aplate, and the immunoassay method may further include, prior to theplacing of the sample to be diagnosed in the reaction region, providingthe plate on which bottom antibodies, which are antibodies that reactspecifically with the target protein, are fixated on the reactionregion, and the placing of the sample to be diagnosed in the reactionregion may include placing the sample to be diagnosed in the reactionregion on which the bottom antibodies are fixated

In the immunoassay method, multiple target proteins may be present, themultiple target proteins may include a first target protein and a secondtarget protein, and the patch may contain a first antibody that reactsspecifically with the first target protein and a first antibody thatreact specifically with the second target protein.

In the immunoassay method, multiple target proteins may be present, aplurality of patches that contain the antibodies may be present, themultiple target proteins may include a first target protein and a secondtarget protein, and the plurality of patches may include a first patchthat contains a first antibody that reacts specifically with the firsttarget protein and a second patch that contains a second antibody thatreacts specifically with the second target protein.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an immunoassay method for performing diagnosis by detecting atarget protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch whichincludes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configuredto contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassaymethod including placing the sample to be diagnosed in a reactionregion, using a patch that contains a first antibody that reactsspecifically with a first target protein to provide the first antibodyto the reaction region, and using a patch that contains a secondantibody that reacts specifically with a second target protein toprovide the second antibody to the reaction region.

In the above embodiment, the immunoassay method may further include,after the providing of the second antibody, detecting the first targetprotein and the second target protein.

In this case, the detecting of the first target protein may includedetecting first fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence labelattached to the first antibody bound specifically to the first targetprotein, and the detecting of the second target protein may includedetecting second fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence labelattached to the second antibody bound specifically to the second targetprotein. Here, a wavelength band from which the first fluorescence isdetected and a wavelength band from which the second fluorescence isdetected may be different from each other.

In the above embodiment, the immunoassay method may further include,after the providing of the first antibody to the reaction region,detecting the first target protein, and after the providing of thesecond antibody to the reaction region, detecting the second targetprotein.

In this case, the detecting of the first target protein may includedetecting first fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence labelattached to the first antibody bound specifically to the first targetprotein, and the detecting of the second target protein may includedetecting second fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence labelattached to the second antibody bound specifically to the second targetprotein.

Here, a wavelength band from which the first fluorescence is detectedmay overlap at least a portion of a wavelength band from which thesecond fluorescence is detected, and the detecting of the secondfluorescence may be performed by comparing fluorescence detected fromthe sample after the second antibody is provided to the reaction regionand fluorescence detected from the sample before the second antibody isprovided to the reaction region.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an antibody providing kit that includes a medium which containsantibodies that react specifically with a target protein, and anantibody providing patch which includes a mesh structural body formingmicro-cavities and is configured to come into contact with the medium toabsorb some of the antibodies contained in the medium and come intocontact with a reaction region in which the target protein is placed toprovide at least some of the absorbed antibodies to the reaction region.

According to still another aspect of the present disclosure, there isprovided an immunoassay method for performing diagnosis by detecting atarget protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch whichincludes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configuredto handle a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassaymethod including contacting a medium, which contains antibodies thatreact specifically with the target protein, with the patch, andcontacting the patch with a reaction region in which the target proteinis placed, wherein, when the medium is brought into contact with thepatch, at least some of the antibodies contained in the medium areabsorbed into the patch. In this case, when the patch is brought intocontact with the reaction region, at least some of the antibodiesabsorbed into the patch may be movable to the reaction region.

The contacting of the medium with the patch may include contacting asurface of the medium with the patch, and the contacting of the patchwith the reaction region may include contacting a surface of the patch,which is not with the medium, into contact with the reaction region.

Solutions for solving the technical problems of the present disclosureare not limited to the above-described solutions, and other unmentionedsolution should be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in theart to which the present disclosure pertains from the presentspecification and the accompanying drawings.

According to the present disclosure, containing, providing, andabsorption of a substance can be easily performed.

According to the present disclosure, a reaction region for a substancecan be provided or a predetermined environment can be provided to atarget region.

According to the present disclosure, immunoassay can be moreconveniently performed, and a diagnosis result can be promptly obtained.

According to the present disclosure, a diagnosis result with sufficientvalidity can be obtained using a small amount of sample.

According to the present disclosure, providing and absorption of asubstance can be suitably adjusted using a path, and an amount of asolution required for diagnosis can be significantly reduced.

According to the present disclosure, diagnosis can be performed bysimultaneously detecting a plurality of targets, and patient-specificdiagnosis can be performed as a result.

Advantageous effects of the present disclosure are not limited to thosementioned above, and unmentioned advantageous effects should be clearlyunderstood by those of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentdisclosure pertains from the present specification and the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a patch in detail according to thepresent application.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of a patch in detail according to thepresent application.

FIG. 3 illustrates providing of a reaction space as an example of afunction of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 4 illustrates providing of a reaction space as an example of afunction of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 5 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 6 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 7 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 8 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 9 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 10 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 11 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 12 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 13 illustrates providing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 14 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 15 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 16 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 17 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 18 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 19 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 20 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 21 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 22 illustrates absorbing of a substance as an example of a functionof a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 23 illustrates providing of an environment as an example of afunction of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 24 illustrates providing of an environment as an example of afunction of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 25 illustrates providing of an environment as an example of afunction of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 26 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 27 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 28 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 29 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 30 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 31 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance and providing of an environment as an embodiment of a patchaccording to the present application.

FIG. 32 illustrates performance of absorbing and providing of asubstance and providing of an environment as an embodiment of a patchaccording to the present application.

FIG. 33 illustrates an implementation of a plurality of patches as anembodiment of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 34 illustrates an implementation of a plurality of patches and aplate having a plurality of target regions as an embodiment of a patchaccording to the present application.

FIG. 35 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 36 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 37 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 38 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of providingan antibody to a reaction region in an immunoassay method according toan embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 39 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 40 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of providingan antibody to a reaction region in an immunoassay method according toan embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 41 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) as an exampleof an immunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 42 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 43 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing indirect ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

FIG. 44 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 45 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 46 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 47 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 48 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 49 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 50 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 51 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 52 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 53 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using indirect ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 54 illustrates performance of washing using a washing patchaccording to an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 55 illustrates performing washing using a washing patch accordingto an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 56 illustrates performing washing using a washing patch accordingto an embodiment of the present application.

FIG. 57 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing direct ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

FIG. 58 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using direct ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 59 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using direct ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 60 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using direct ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 61 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using direct ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 62 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using direct ELISAas an embodiment of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 63 illustrates a patch that contains a pair of antibodies as anembodiment of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 64 illustrates a patch that contains a primary antibody and asecondary antibody as an embodiment of a patch according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 65 illustrates a part of an example of a process of manufacturing apatch that contains a pair of antibodies as an embodiment of a patchaccording to the present application.

FIG. 66 illustrates a part of an example of a process of manufacturing apatch that contains a pair of antibodies as an embodiment of a patchaccording to the present application.

FIG. 67 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing sandwich ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

FIG. 68 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 69 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 70 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 71 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 72 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 73 illustrates a part of an immunoassay method using sandwich ELISAas an example of an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 74 illustrates a patch that absorbs and contains an antibody as anexample of a patch in an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 75 illustrates a patch that absorbs and contains an antibody as anexample of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 76 illustrates a patch that absorbs and contains an antibody as anexample of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 77 illustrates a patch that absorbs, contains, and provides anantibody as an example of a patch according to the present application.

FIG. 78 illustrates an embodiment of an immunoassay device according tothe present application.

FIG. 79 illustrates an example of a patch controller in an embodiment ofan immunoassay device according to the present application.

FIG. 80 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 81 illustrates a flowchart for describing an embodiment of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 82 illustrates a flowchart for describing an embodiment of animmunoassay method according to the present application.

FIG. 83 illustrates a part of a case in which a plurality of targetproteins are detected in an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

FIG. 84 illustrates a part of a case in which a plurality of targetproteins are detected in an immunoassay method according to the presentapplication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Since embodiments described herein are for clearly describing the spiritof the present disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present disclosure pertains, the present disclosure is not limitedto the embodiments described herein, and the scope of the presentdisclosure should be construed as including revised examples or modifiedexamples not departing from the spirit of the present disclosure.

General terms currently being used as widely as possible have beenselected as terms used herein in consideration of functions in thepresent disclosure, but the terms may be changed according to intentionsand practices of those of ordinary skill in the art to which the presentdisclosure pertains or the advent of new technologies, etc. However,instead, when a particular term is defined as a certain meaning andused, the meaning of the term will be separately described.Consequently, the terms used herein should be construed on the basis ofsubstantial meanings of the terms and content throughout the presentspecification instead of simply on the basis of names of the terms.

The accompanying drawings herein are for easily describing the presentdisclosure. Since shapes illustrated in the drawings may have beenexaggeratedly depicted as much as necessary to assist in understatingthe present disclosure, the present disclosure is not limited by thedrawings.

When detailed description of a known configuration or function relatedto the present disclosure is deemed to obscure the gist of the presentdisclosure in the present specification, the detailed descriptionrelated thereto will be omitted as necessary.

1. Patch 1.1 Meaning of Patch

In the present application, a patch for managing a liquid substance isdisclosed.

The liquid substance may mean a substance which is in a liquid state andcan flow.

The liquid substance may be a substance formed of a single componenthaving fluidity. Alternatively, the liquid substance may be a mixturethat includes a substance formed of a plurality of components.

When the liquid substance is a substance formed of a single component,the liquid substance may be a substance formed of a single chemicalelement or a compound including a plurality of chemical elements.

When the liquid substance is a mixture, a portion of the substanceformed of a plurality of components may serve as a solvent, and theother portion may serve as a solute. That is, the mixture may be asolution.

A plurality of components constituting the mixture which forms thesubstance may be uniformly distributed. Alternatively, the mixtureincluding the substance formed of a plurality of components may be auniformly mixed mixture.

The substance formed of a plurality of components may include a solventand a substance that is not dissolved in the solvent and is uniformlydistributed.

A portion of the substance formed of a plurality of components may benon-uniformly distributed. The non-uniformly distributed substance mayinclude non-uniformly distributed particle components in the solvent. Inthis case, the non-uniformly distributed particle components may be in asolid phase.

For example, a substance that may be managed using the patch may be in astate of 1) a liquid formed of a single component, 2) a solution, or 3)a colloid, or according to circumstances, may be in a state in which 4)solid particles are non-uniformly distributed within another liquidsubstance.

Hereinafter, the patch according to the present application will bedescribed in more detail.

1.2 General Nature of Patch 1.2.1 Configuration

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views illustrating an example of a patch according tothe present application. The patch according to the present applicationwill be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 .

Referring to FIG. 1 , a patch PA according to the present applicationmay include a mesh structural body NS and a liquid substance.

As the liquid substance, a base substance BS and an additive substanceAS may be taken into consideration separately.

The patch PA may be in a gel state (gel type). The patch PA may beimplemented as a gel-type structural body in which colloidal moleculesare bound and mesh tissues are formed.

The patch PA according to the present application is a structure formanaging a liquid substance SB, and may include a three-dimensional mesh(net-like) structural body NS. The mesh structural body NS may be acontinuously distributed solid structure. The mesh structural body NSmay have a mesh structure in which a plurality of micro-threads areintertwined. However, the mesh structural body NS is not limited to themesh form in which the plurality of micro-threads are intertwined, andmay also be implemented in the form of an arbitrary three-dimensionalmatrix that is formed by connection of a plurality of micro-structures.For example, the mesh structural body NS may be a frame structural bodythat includes a plurality of micro-cavities. In other words, the meshstructural body NS may form a plurality of micro-cavities MC.

FIG. 2 illustrates a structure of a patch according to an embodiment ofthe present application. Referring to FIG. 2 , the mesh structural bodyof the patch PA may have a sponge structure SS. The mesh structural bodyof the sponge structure SS may include a plurality of micro-holes MH.Hereinafter, the terms micro-holes MH and the micro-cavities MC may beused interchangeably, and unless particularly mentioned otherwise, theterm micro-cavities MC is defined as encompassing the concept of themicro-holes MH.

The mesh structural body NS may have a regular or irregular pattern.Furthermore, the mesh structural body NS may include both a regionhaving a regular pattern and a region having an irregular pattern.

A density of the mesh structural body NS may have a value within apredetermined range. Preferably, the predetermined range may be setwithin a limit in which the form of the liquid substance SB captured inthe patch PA is maintained in a form that corresponds to the patch PA.The density may be defined as a degree to which the mesh structural bodyNS is dense or a mass ratio, a volume ratio, or the like that the meshstructural body NS occupies in the patch.

The patch according to the present application may manage the liquidsubstance SB by having a three-dimensional mesh structure.

The patch PA according to the present application may include the liquidsubstance SB, and the fluidity of the liquid substance SB included inthe patch PA may be limited by the form of the mesh structural body NSof the patch PA.

The liquid substance SB may freely flow within the mesh structural bodyNS. In other words, the liquid substance SB is placed in the pluralityof micro-cavities formed by the mesh structural body NS. An exchange ofliquid substance SB may occur between neighboring micro-cavities. Inthis case, the liquid substance SB may be present in a state in whichthe liquid substance SB permeating into a frame structural body thatforms the mesh tissues. In such a case, nano-sized pores into which theliquid substances SB may permeate may be formed in the frame structuralbody.

Further, whether to the liquid substance SB is filled in the framestructural body of the mesh structure may be determined depending on amolecular weight or a particle size of the liquid substance SB to becaptured in the patch PA. A substance having a relatively largemolecular weight may be captured in the micro-cavities, and a substancehaving a relatively small molecular weight may be captured by the framestructural body and filled in the micro-cavities and/or the framestructural body of the mesh structural body NS.

In the present specification, the term “capture” may be defined as astate in which the liquid substance SB is placed in the plurality ofmicro-cavities and/or nano-sized holes formed by the mesh structuralbody NS. As described above, the state in which the liquid substance SBis captured in the patch PA is defined as including a state in which theliquid substance SB may flow between the micro-cavities and/or thenano-sized holes.

As in the following, the base substance BS and the additive substance ASmay be taken into consideration separately as the liquid substance SB.

The base substance BS may be a liquid substance SB having fluidity.

The additive substance AS may be a substance that is mixed with the basesubstance BS and has fluidity. In other words, the base substance BS maybe a solvent. The additive substance AS may be a solute that isdissolved in the solvent or may be particles that are not melted in thesolvent.

The base substance BS may be a substance capable of flowing inside amatrix formed by the mesh structural body NS. The base substance BS maybe uniformly distributed in the mesh structural body NS or may bedistributed only in a partial region of the mesh structural body NS. Thebase substance BS may be a liquid having a single component.

The additive substance AS may be a substance that is mixed with the basesubstance BS or dissolved in the base substance BS. For example, theadditive substance AS may serve as a solute while the base substance BSis a solvent. The additive substance AS may be uniformly distributed inthe base substance BS.

The additive substance AS may be fine particles that are not dissolvedin the base substance BS. For example, the additive substance AS mayinclude colloidal molecules and fine particles such as microorganisms.

The additive substance AS may include, particles larger than themicro-cavities formed by the mesh structural body NS. When the size ofthe micro-cavities is smaller than the size of the particles included inthe additive substance AS, fluidity of the additive substance AS may belimited.

According to an embodiment, the additive substance AS may include acomponent that is selectively included in the patch PA.

The additive substance AS does not necessarily refer to a substance thatis lower in quantity or inferior in function in comparison to theabove-described base substance BS.

Hereinafter, characteristics of the liquid substance SB captured in thepatch PA may be presumed as characteristics of the patch PA. That is,the characteristics of the patch PA may depend on characteristics of asubstance captured in the patch PA.

1.2.2 Characteristics

As described above, the patch PA according to the present applicationmay include the mesh structural body NS. The patch PA may manage theliquid substance SB through the mesh structural body NS. The patch PAmay allow the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA to maintainat least some of its unique characteristics.

For example, diffusion of a substance may occur in a region of the patchPA in which the liquid substance SB is distributed, and a force such assurface tension may come into action.

The patch PA may provide a liquid environment in which diffusion of atarget substance is caused due to thermal motion of a substance or adifference in density or concentration thereof. Generally, “diffusion”refers to a phenomenon in which particles that constitute a substanceare spread from a side at which concentration is high to a side at whicha concentration is low due to a difference in concentration. Such adiffusion phenomenon may be basically understood as a phenomenon thatoccurs due to motion of molecules (translational motion in a gas orliquid, vibrational motion in a solid, and the like). In the presentapplication, in addition to referring to the phenomenon in whichparticles are spread from a side at which a concentration is high towarda side at which a concentration is low due to a difference inconcentration or density, “diffusion” also refers to a phenomenon inwhich particles move due to irregular motion of molecules that occurseven when a concentration is uniform. The expression “irregular motion”may also have the same meaning as “diffusion” unless particularlymentioned otherwise. The diffused substance may be a solute that isdissolved in the liquid substance SB, and the diffused substance may beprovided in a solid, liquid, or gas state.

More specifically, a non-uniformly-distributed substance in the liquidsubstance SB captured by the patch PA may be diffused in a spaceprovided by the patch PA. In other words, the additive substance AS maybe diffused in a space defined by the patch PA.

The non-uniformly-distributed substance or the additive substance AS inthe liquid substance SB managed by the patch PA may be diffused withinthe micro-cavities provided by the mesh structural body NS of the patchPA. A region in which the non-uniformly-distributed substance or theadditive substance AS may be diffused may be changed by the patch PAbeing connected or coming into contact with another substance.

Even when, after the concentration of the substance or the additivesubstance AS has become uniform, as a result of diffusion of thenon-uniformly-distributed substance or the additive substance AS withinthe patch PA or within an external region connected to the patch PA, thesubstance or the additive substance AS may continuously move due toirregular motion of molecules inside the patch PA and/or within theexternal region connected to the patch PA.

The patch PA may be implemented to exhibit a hydrophilic or hydrophobicproperty. In other words, the mesh structural body NS of the patch PAmay have a hydrophilic or hydrophobic property.

When properties of the mesh structural body NS and the liquid substanceSB are similar, the mesh structural body NS may be able to manage theliquid substance SB more effectively.

The base substance BS may be a polar hydrophilic substance or a nonpolarhydrophobic substance. The additive substance AS may exhibit ahydrophilic or hydrophobic property.

The properties of the liquid substance SB may be related to the basesubstance BS and/or the additive substance AS. For example, when boththe base substance BS and the additive substance AS are hydrophilic, theliquid substance SB may be hydrophilic, and when both the base substanceBS and the additive substance AS are hydrophobic, the liquid substanceSB may be hydrophobic. When polarities of the base substance BS and theadditive substance AS are different, the liquid substance SB may behydrophilic or hydrophobic.

When polarities of both the mesh structural body NS and the liquidsubstance SB are hydrophilic or hydrophobic, an attractive force maycome into action between the mesh structural body NS and the liquidsubstance SB. When polarities of the mesh structural body NS and theliquid substance SB are opposite, e.g., when the polarity of the meshstructural body NS is hydrophobic and the polarity of the liquidsubstance SB is hydrophilic, a repulsive force may act between the meshstructural body NS and the liquid substance SB.

On the basis of the above-described properties, the patch PA may besolely used, a plurality of patches PA may be used, or the patch PA maybe used with another medium to induce a desired reaction. Hereinafter,functional aspects of the patch PA will be described.

However, hereinafter, for convenience of description, the patch PA isassumed as being a gel type that may include a hydrophilic solution. Inother words, unless particularly mentioned otherwise, the meshstructural body NS of the patch PA is assumed to have a hydrophilicproperty.

However, the scope of the present application should not be interpretedas being limited to the gel-type patch PA having a hydrophilic property.In addition to a gel-type patch PA that includes a solution exhibiting ahydrophobic property, a gel-type patch PA from which a solvent isremoved and even a sol-type patch PA, as long as it is capable ofimplementing functions according to the present application, may belongto the scope of the present application.

2. Functions of Patch

Due to the above-described characteristics, the patch according to thepresent application may have some useful functions. In other words, bycapturing the liquid substance SB, the patch may become involved inbehavior of the liquid substance SB.

Accordingly, hereinafter, in accordance with forms of behavior of thesubstance with respect to the patch PA, a reservoir function in which astate of the substance is defined in a predetermined region formed bythe patch PA and a channeling function in which a state of the substanceis defined in a region including an external region of the patch PA willbe separately described.

2.1 Reservoir 2.1.1 Meaning

As described above, the patch PA according to the present applicationmay capture the liquid substance SB. In other words, the patch PA mayperform a function as a reservoir.

The patch PA may capture the liquid substance SB in the plurality ofmicro-cavities formed in the mesh structural body NS using the meshstructural body NS. The liquid substance SB may occupy at least aportion of the fine micro-cavities formed by the three-dimensional meshstructural body NS of the patch PA or be penetrated in the nano-sizedpores formed in the mesh structural body NS.

The liquid substance SB placed in the patch PA does not lose propertiesof a liquid even when the liquid substance SB is distributed in theplurality of micro-cavities. That is, the liquid substance SB hasfluidity even in the patch PA, and diffusion of a substance may occur inthe liquid substance SB distributed in the patch PA, and an appropriatesolute may be dissolved in the substance.

The reservoir function of the patch PA will be described below in moredetail.

2.1.2 Containing

In the present application, the patch PA may capture a target substancedue to the above-described characteristics. The patch PA may haveresistance to a change in an external environment within a predeterminedrange. In this way, the patch PA may maintain a state in which thesubstance is captured therein. The liquid substance SB, which is atarget to be captured, may occupy the three-dimensional mesh structuralbody NS.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the above-described function of the patchPA will be referred to as “containing.”

However, “the patch PA containing the liquid substance” is defined toencompass a case in which the liquid substance is contained in a spaceformed by the mesh structure and/or a case in which the liquid substanceis contained in the frame structural body constituting the meshstructural body NS.

The patch PA may contain the liquid substance SB. For example, the patchPA may contain the liquid substance SB, due to an attractive force thatacts between the mesh structural body NS of the patch PA and the liquidsubstance SB. The liquid substance SB may be bound to the meshstructural body NS with an attractive force of a predetermined strengthor higher and contained in the patch PA.

Properties of the liquid substance SB contained in the patch PA may beclassified in accordance with properties of the patch PA. Morespecifically, when the patch PA exhibits a hydrophilic property, thepatch PA may be bound to a hydrophilic liquid substance SB which ispolar in general and contain the hydrophilic liquid substance SB in thethree-dimensional micro-cavities. Alternatively, when the patch PAexhibits a hydrophobic property, the hydrophobic liquid substance SB maybe contained in the micro-cavities of the three-dimensional meshstructural body NS.

The amount of substance that may be contained in the patch PA may beproportional to a volume of the patch PA. In other words, the amount ofsubstance contained in the patch PA may be proportional to an amount ofthree-dimensional mesh structural body NS that serves as a support bodythat contributes to the form of the patch PA. However, there is noconstant proportional factor between the amount of substance that may becontained in the patch PA and the volume of the patch PA, and thus therelationship between the amount of substance that may be contained inthe patch PA and the volume of the patch PA may be changed in accordancewith the design or manufacturing method of the mesh structure.

The amount of substance contained in the patch PA may be reduced due toevaporation, loss, etc. with time. The substance may be additionallyinjected into the patch PA to increase or maintain the content of thesubstance contained in the patch PA. For example, a moisture keepingagent for suppressing evaporation of moisture may be added to the patchPA.

The patch PA may be implemented in a form in which it is easy to storethe liquid substance SB. This signifies that, when the substance isaffected by environmental factors such as humidity level, amount oflight, and temperature, the patch PA may be implemented to minimizedenaturalization of the substance. For example, to prevent the patch PAfrom being denaturalized due to external factors such as bacteria, thepatch PA may be treated with a bacteria inhibitor.

A liquid substance SB having a plurality of components may be containedin the patch PA. In this case, the substance formed of a plurality ofcomponents may be placed together in the patch PA before a referencetime point, or a primarily-injected substance may be first contained inthe patch PA and then a secondary substance may be contained in thepatch PA after a predetermined amount of time. For example, when aliquid substance SB formed of two components is contained in the patchPA, the two components may be contained in the patch PA uponmanufacturing the patch PA, only one component may be contained in thepatch PA upon manufacturing the patch PA and the other component may becontained therein later, or the two components may be sequentiallycontained in the patch PA after the patch PA is manufactured.

As described above, the substance contained in the patch may exhibitfluidity, and the substance may move irregularly or be diffused due tomolecular motion in the patch PA.

2.1.3 Providing of Reaction Space

FIGS. 3 and 4 are views illustrating providing a reaction space as anexample of a function of the patch according to the present application.

As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 , the patch PA according to the presentapplication may perform a function of providing a space. In other words,the patch PA may provide a space in which the liquid substance SB maymove through a space formed by the mesh structural body NS and/or aspace constituting the mesh structural body NS.

The patch PA may provide a space for activity other than diffusion ofparticles and/or irregular motion of particles (hereinafter referred toas activity other than diffusion). The activity other than diffusion mayrefer to a chemical reaction, but is not limited thereto, and may alsorefer to a physical state change. More specifically, the activity otherthan diffusion may include a chemical reaction in which a chemicalcomposition of the substance changes after the activity, a specificbinding reaction between components included in the substance,homogenization of solutes or particles included in the substance andnon-uniformly distributed therein, condensation of some componentsincluded in the substance, or a biological activity of a portion of thesubstance.

When a plurality of substances become involved in the activity, theplurality of substances may be placed together in the patch PA before areference time point. The plurality of substances may be sequentiallyinserted into the patch PA.

By changing environmental conditions of the patch PA, efficiency of thefunction of providing a space for activities other than diffusion in thepatch PA may be enhanced. For example, the activity may be promoted or astart of the activity may be induced by changing a temperature conditionof the patch PA or adding an electrical condition thereto.

According to FIGS. 3 and 4 , a first substance SB1 and a secondsubstance SB2 placed in the patch PA may react inside the patch PA andbe deformed into a third substance SB3 or generate the third substanceSB3.

2.2 Channel 2.2.1 Meaning

Movement of a substance may occur between the patch PA and an externalregion. The substance may be moved from the patch PA to the externalregion of the patch PA or may be moved from the external region to thepatch PA.

The patch PA may form a substance movement path or get involved inmovement of the substance. More specifically, the patch PA may becomeinvolved in movement of the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PAor become involved in movement of an external substance through theliquid substance SB captured in the patch PA. The base substance BS orthe additive substance AS may move out from the patch PA, or an externalsubstance may be introduced from an external region to the patch PA.

The patch PA may provide a substance movement path. That is, the patchPA may become involved in movement of the substance and provide asubstance movement channel. The patch PA may provide a substancemovement channel based on unique properties of the liquid substance SB.

In accordance with whether the patch PA is connected to the externalregion, the patch PA may be in a state in which the liquid substance SBis movable between the patch PA and the external region or a state inwhich the liquid substance SB is immovable between the patch PA and theexternal region. When channeling between the patch PA and the externalregion begins, the patch PA may have unique functions.

Hereinafter, the state in which the substance is movable and the statein which the substance is immovable will be described first, and theunique functions of the patch PA will be described in detail inconnection with whether the patch PA and the external region areconnected.

Basically, irregular motion and/or diffusion of the substance arefundamental causes of movement of the liquid substance SB between thepatch PA and the external region. However, controlling an externalenvironmental factor (e.g., controlling a temperature condition,controlling an electrical condition, or the like) in order to controlmovement of a substance between the patch PA and the external region hasalready been described.

2.2.2 Movable State

In the state in which the substance is movable, a flow may occur betweenthe liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA and/or the substanceplaced in the external region. In the state in which the substance ismovable, substance movement may occur between the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA and the external region.

For example, in the state in which the substance is movable, the liquidsubstance SB or some components of the liquid substance SB may bediffused to the external region or moved due to irregular motion.Alternatively, in the state in which the substance is movable, anexternal substance placed in the external region or some components ofthe external substance may be diffused to the liquid substance SB in thepatch PA or moved due to irregular motion.

The state in which the substance is movable may be caused by contact.The contact may refer to connection between the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA and the external region. Contact may refer toat least a partial overlap between a flow region of the liquid substanceSB and the external region. The contact may refer to the externalsubstance being connected to at least a portion of the patch PA. It maybe understood that the range in which the captured liquid substance SBmay flow is expanded in the state in which the substance is movable. Inother words, in the state in which the substance is movable, the rangein which the liquid substance SB may flow may be expanded to include atleast a portion of the external region of the captured liquid substanceSB. For example, when the liquid substance SB is in contact with theexternal region, the range in which the captured liquid substance SB mayflow may be expanded to include at least a portion of the externalregion in contact. More specifically, when the external region is anexternal plate, the region in which the liquid substance SB may flow maybe expanded to include a region of the external plate in contact withthe liquid substance SB.

2.2.3 Immovable State

In the state in which the substance is immovable, substance movement maynot occur between the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA andthe external region. However, substance movement may respectively occurin the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA and in externalsubstance placed in the external region.

The state in which the substance is immovable may be a state in whichthe contact is released. In other words, in the state in which contactbetween the patch PA and the external region is released, substancemovement is not possible between the liquid substance SB remaining inthe patch PA and the external region or the external substance.

More specifically, the state in which the contact is released may referto a state in which the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA isnot connected to the external region. The state in which the contact isreleased may refer to a state in which the liquid substance SB is notconnected to an external substance placed in the external region. Forexample, the state in which movement of the substance is impossible maybe caused by separation between the patch PA and the external region.

In the present specification, although “movable state” has a meaningdifferentiated from that of “immovable state,” a transition may occurbetween the states due to an elapse of time, an environmental change,and the like. In other words, the patch PA may be in the immovable stateafter being in the movable state, in the movable state after being inthe immovable state, or may be in the movable state again, after beingin the immovable state after being in the movable state.

2.2.4 Differentiation of Functions 2.2.4.1 Delivery

In the present application, due to the above-described characteristics,the patch PA may deliver at least a portion of the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA to a desired external region. The delivery ofthe substance may refer to separation of a portion of the liquidsubstance SB captured in the patch PA from the patch PA due to apredetermined condition being satisfied. The separation of the portionof the liquid substance SB may refer to the portion of the substancebeing extracted, emitted, or released from a region that is affected bythe patch PA. This is a concept subordinate to the above-describedchanneling function of the patch PA, and may be understood as definingtransfer(delivery) of the substance placed in the patch PA to theoutside of the patch PA.

The desired external region may be another patch PA, a dried region, ora liquid region.

The predetermined condition for the delivery to occur may be set as anenvironmental condition such as a temperature change, a pressure change,a change in an electrical characteristic, and a change in a physicalstate. For example, when the patch PA is in contact with an object whoseforce of binding to the liquid substance SB is larger than a force ofbinding to the mesh structural body NS of the patch PA, the liquidsubstance SB may be chemically bound with the object in contact, and asa result, at least a portion of the liquid substance SB may be providedto the object.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the above-described function of the patchPA will be referred to as “delivery.”

The delivery may occur between the patch PA and the external region, viathe state in which the liquid substance SB is movable and the state inwhich the liquid substance SB is immovable between the patch PA and theexternal region.

More specifically, when the liquid substance SB is in the movable state,the liquid substance SB may be diffused between the patch PA and theexternal region or may be moved to the external region due to irregularmotion. In other words, the base solution and/or the additive substanceAS included in the liquid substance SB may be moved from the patch PA tothe external region. In the state in which the liquid substance SB isimmovable, the liquid substance SB is unable to move between the patchPA and the external region. In other words, due to a transition from themovable state to the immovable state, a portion of the substance thathas moved from the patch PA to the external region due to diffusionand/or irregular motion of the liquid substance SB become unable to moveback to the patch PA. Thus, a portion of the liquid substance SB may beprovided to the external region.

The delivery may be performed due to a difference between an attractiveforce between the liquid substance SB and the mesh structural body NSand an attractive force between the liquid substance SB and the externalregion or the external substance. The attractive force may be caused bysimilarity between polarities or a specific binding relationship.

More specifically, when the liquid substance SB is hydrophilic and theexternal region or the external substance is more hydrophilic than themesh structural body NS, at least a portion of the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA may be provided to the external region via themovable state and the immovable state.

The delivery of the liquid substance SB may also be performedselectively. For example, when a specific binding relationship existsbetween some components included in the liquid substance SB and theexternal substance, some of the ingredients may be selectively deliveredvia the state in which the substance is movable and the state in whichthe substance is immovable.

More specifically, when it is assumed that the patch PA provides asubstance to an external plate PL, which is in a form of a flat plate, asubstance that binds specifically to a portion of the liquid substanceSB captured in the patch PA (e.g., a portion of a solute) may be appliedon the external plate PL. In this case, the patch PA may selectivelydeliver a portion of the solute that binds specifically to the substanceapplied on the external plate PL from the patch PA to the plate PL viathe movable state and the immovable state.

The delivery as a function of the patch PA will be described belowaccording to a few examples of different regions to which the substanceis moved. However, in giving the detailed description, the concepts of“release” of the liquid substance SB and “delivery” of the liquidsubstance SB may be interchangeably used.

Here, a case in which the liquid substance SB is provided from the patchPA to a separate external plate PL will be described. For example, acase in which the substance is moved from the patch PA to a plate PL,such as a slide glass, may be taken into consideration.

As the patch PA and the plate PL come into contact, at least a portionof the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA is diffused to theplate PL or moved due to irregular motion. When the contact between thepatch PA and the plate PL is released, the portion of the substance thathas been moved from the patch PA to the plate PL (that is, the portionof the liquid substance SB) become unable to move back to the patch PA.As a result, the portion of the substance may be provided from the patchPA to the plate PL. In this case, the portion of the substance beingprovided may be the additive substance AS. For a substance in the patchPA to be “provided” by the contact and separation, an attractive forceand/or binding force that acts between the substance and the plate PLshould be present, and the attractive force and/or the binding forceshould be larger than the attractive force acting between the substanceand the patch PA. Therefore, if the above-described “delivery condition”is not satisfied, delivery of a substance may not occur between thepatch PA and the plate PL.

The delivery of a substance may be controlled by providing a temperaturecondition or an electrical condition to the patch PA.

The movement of a substance from the patch PA to the plate PL may dependon an extent of a contact area between the patch PA and the plate PL.For example, the substance movement efficiency between the patch PA andthe plate PL may be increased or decreased in accordance with an extentof an area in which the patch PA and the plate PL come into contact.

When the patch PA includes a plurality of components, only some of thecomponents may be selectively moved to the external plate PL. Morespecifically, a substance that binds specifically to some of theplurality of components may be fixed to the external plate PL. In thiscase, the substance fixed to the external plate PL may be in a liquid orsolid state, or may be fixed to a different region. In this case, aportion of the substance of the plurality of components moves to theplate PL and binds specifically to the plate PL due to contact betweenthe patch PA and the different region, and when the patch PA isseparated from the plate PL, only some of the components may beselectively released to the plate PL.

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate delivery of a substance from the patch PA to theexternal plate PL as an example of delivery of a substance from amongthe functions of the patch PA according to the present application.According to FIGS. 5 to 7 , by the patch PA coming into contact with theexternal plate PL, a portion of a substance contained in the patch PAmay be provided to the plate PL. In this case, providing of thesubstance may become possible by the patch PA coming into contact withthe plate so that the substance is movable. In this case, a water filmWF may be formed in the vicinity of a contact surface at which the plateand the patch PA come into contact, and the substance may be movablethrough the formed water film WF.

Here, a case in which the liquid substance SB is provided from the patchPA to a substance having fluidity SL will be described. The substancehaving fluidity SL may be a liquid substance that is held in othercontaining space or that is flowing.

As the patch PA and the substance having fluidity come into contact (forexample, the patch PA is put into a solution), at least a portion of theliquid substance SB captured in the patch PA may be diffused or moveddue to irregular motion to the substance having fluidity SL. When thepatch PA and the substance having fluidity SL are separated, a portionof the liquid substance SB that has been moved from the patch PA to thesubstance having fluidity become unable to move back to the patch PA sothat a portion of the substance in the patch PA may be provided to thesubstance having fluidity.

The substance movement between the patch PA and the substance havingfluidity SL may depend on an extent of a contact area between the patchPA and the substance having fluidity SL. For example, the substancemovement efficiency between the patch PA and the substance havingfluidity SL may be increased or decreased in accordance with an extentof an area at which the patch PA and the substance having fluidity SLcome into contact (for example, a depth at which the patch PA isimmersed into a solution or the like).

The substance movement between the patch PA and the substance havingfluidity SL may be controlled through physical separation between thepatch PA and the substance having fluidity.

A partial concentration of the additive substance AS in the liquidsubstance SB and a partial concentration of the additive substance AS inthe substance having fluidity may be different, and the additivesubstance AS may be provided from the patch PA to the substance havingfluidity.

However, in the patch PA providing the liquid substance SB to thesubstance having fluidity SL, the physical separation between the patchPA and the substance having fluidity SL is not essential. For example,when a force(driving force/casual force) that causes a substance to movefrom the patch PA to a liquid having fluidity disappears or is decreasedto a reference value or lower, the movement of the substance may bestopped.

In “delivery” between the patch PA and the substance having fluidity SL,the above-described “delivery condition” between the patch PA and thesubstance having fluidity SL may not be required. It may be understoodthat substances that have already moved to the substance having fluiditySL are diffused and/or moved due to irregular motion in the substancehaving fluidity SL, and the substance has been provided to the substancehaving fluidity SL when a distance between the moved substance and thepatch PA become larger a predetermined distance. Since, while in thecase of the plate PL, a movable range expanded due to the contact isextremely limited, and thus the attractive force between the patch PAand the substances that have moved to the plate PL may be significant,in the relationship between the patch PA and the substance havingfluidity, a movable range expanded due to contact between the patch PAand the plate PL is relatively much wider, and thus the attractive forcebetween the patch PA and the substances that have moved to the substancehaving fluidity SL is insignificant.

FIGS. 8 to 10 illustrate delivery of a substance from the patch PA tothe substance having fluidity as an example of delivery of a substancefrom among the functions of the patch PA according to the presentapplication. According to FIGS. 8 to 10 , the patch PA may deliver aportion of a substance contained in the patch PA to an externalsubstance having fluidity. The delivery of the portion of the containedsubstance may be performed by the patch PA being inserted into or cominginto contact with the substance having fluidity so that substancemovement is possible between the liquid substance SB captured in thepatch PA and the substance having fluidity.

Here, it is assumed that a substance is moved from the patch PA toanother patch PA. In a contact region in which the patch PA and theother patch PA are in contact, at least a portion of the liquidsubstance B provided in the patch PA may be moved to the other patch PA.

In the contact region, the liquid substance SB provided in each patch PAmay be diffused and moved to the other patch PA. In this case, due tothe movement of the substance, a concentration of the liquid substanceSB provided in each patch PA may be changed. Also in the presentembodiment, as described above, the patch PA and the other patch PA maybe separated, and a portion of the liquid substance SB in the patch PAmay be provided to the other patch PA.

The substance movement between the patch PA and the other patch PA maybe performed through a change in an environmental condition including achange in a physical state.

The substance movement between the patch PA and another patch PA maydepend on an extent of a contact area between the patch PA and the otherpatch PA. For example, the substance movement efficiency between thepatch PA and the other patch PA may be increased or decreased inaccordance with an extent of an area where the patch PA comes intocontact with the other patch PA.

FIGS. 11 to 13 illustrate delivery of a substance from a patch PA1 toanother patch PA2 as an example of delivery of a substance among thefunctions of the patch PA according to the present application.According to FIGS. 11 to 13 , the patch PA1 may deliver a portion of asubstance contained in the patch PA1 to the other patch PA2. Thedelivery of the portion of the substance may be performed by the patchPA1 coming into contact with the other patch PA2 and becoming a state inwhich a liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA1 and a substancecaptured in the other patch PA2 are exchangeable.

2.2.4.2 Absorption

Prior to description, it should be noted that, among the functions ofthe patch PA according to the present application, “absorption” may bemanaged similarly as the above-described “delivery” in some embodiments.For example, in a case in which a substance moves due to a concentrationdifferences between substances, the “absorption” may be similar to the“delivery” in that a concentration of the liquid substance SB,particularly, a concentration of the additive substance AS, may bechanged to control a direction in which the substance is moved. The“absorption” may also be similar to “delivery” in terms of controllingmovement and selective absorption of a substance through a release ofphysical contact with the patch PA, and this may be clearly understoodby those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present applicationpertains.

Due to the above-described characteristics, the patch PA according tothe present application may capture an external substance. The patch PAmay pull in an external substance present outside a region defined bythe patch PA toward a region affected by the patch PA. The pulledexternal substance may be captured along with the liquid substance SB ofthe patch PA. The pulling of the external substance may be caused by anattractive force between the external substance and the liquid substanceSB already captured in the patch PA. Alternatively, the pulling of theexternal substance may be caused by an attractive force between theexternal substance and a region of the mesh structural body NS notoccupied by the liquid substance SB. The pulling of the externalsubstance may be caused by a force of surface tension.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the above-described function of the patchPA will be referred to as “absorption.” Absorption may be understood asa concept subordinate to the above-described channeling function of thepatch PA, the concept defining movement of an external substance to thepatch PA.

The absorption may occur by the patch PA via a state in which thesubstance is movable and a state in which the substance is immovable.

A substance that is absorbable by the patch PA may be in a liquid orsolid state. For example, when the patch PA comes into contact with anexternal substance including a solid state substance, absorption of thesubstance may be performed due to an attractive force between the solidstate substance included in the external substance and the liquidsubstance SB placed in the patch PA. As another example, when the patchPA comes into contact with a liquid external substance, the absorptionmay be performed due to binding between the liquid external substanceand the liquid substance SB placed in the patch PA.

The external substance absorbed into the patch PA may be moved to theinside of the patch PA through the micro-cavities of the mesh structuralbody NS forming the patch PA or may be distributed on a surface of thepatch PA. Positions at which the external substance is distributed maybe set on the basis of a molecular weight or a particle size of theexternal substance.

While the absorption is performed, the form of the patch PA may bechanged. For example, the volume, color, and the like of the patch PAmay be changed. While the absorption into the patch PA is beingperformed, the absorption into the patch PA may be activated or delayedby adding external conditions such as a temperature change and aphysical state change to an absorption environment of the patch PA.

The absorption will be described below as a function of the patch PAaccording to some examples of an external region that provides asubstance to be absorbed into the patch PA when the absorption occurs.

Hereinafter, it will be assumed that the patch PA absorbs an externalsubstance from a external plate PL. An example of the external plate mayinclude a plate PL in which the external substance may be placed whilethe external substance is not absorbed thereinto.

A substance may be applied on the external plate PL. Particularly, asubstance may be applied in a form of powder on the plate PL. Thesubstance applied on the plate PL may be a single component or a mixtureof a plurality of components.

The plate PL may have the shape of a flat plate. The shape of the platePL may be deformed for improvement in ability to contain the substanceor the like. For example, a well may be formed to improve the ability tocontain the substance, a surface of the plate PL may be deformed byengraving or embossing, or a patterned plate PL may be used to improvecontact with the patch PA.

The absorption of a substance from the plate PL by the patch PAaccording to the present application may be performed through contactbetween the plate PL and the patch PA. In this case, in a contact regionin the vicinity of a contact surface between the plate PL and the patchPA, a water film WF may be formed due to the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA and/or the substance applied on the plate PL.When the water film (aquaplane, hydroplane) WF is formed in the contactregion, the substance applied on the plate PL may be captured by thewater film WF. The substance captured in the water film WF may freelyflow within the patch PA.

When the patch PA is spaced a predetermined distance or more apart andseparated from the plate PL, the water film WF may be moved along withthe patch PA, and the substance applied on the plate PL may be absorbedinto the patch PA. The substance applied on the plate PL may be absorbedinto the patch PA as the patch PA is separated a predetermined distanceor more apart from the plate PL. When the patch PA and the plate PL arespaced apart and separated, the liquid substance SB provided to thepatch PA may not be moved to the plate PL, or only an insignificantamount thereof may be absorbed into the patch PA.

A portion of or the entire substance applied on the plate PL may reactspecifically with a portion of or the entire substance captured in thepatch PA. In this respect, absorption of a substance from the plate PLby the patch PA may be selectively performed. Particularly, theabsorption may be performed selectively when the patch PA has a strongerattractive force than the plate PL with respect to a portion of thesubstance captured in the patch PA.

As an example, a portion of the substance may be fixed to the plate PL.In other words, a portion of the substance may be fixed to the plate PLwhile another portion of the substance is applied to have fluidity ornot be fixed. In this case, when the patch PA and the plate PL arebrought into contact and separated, the substance, excluding the portionof the substance fixed to the plate PL of the substance applied on theplate PL, may be selectively absorbed into the patch PA. Instead, theselective absorption may also occur due to polarities of a substanceplaced on the plate PL and a substance captured in the patch PAregardless of whether the substance is fixed.

As another example, when the liquid substance SB captured in the patchPA is bound specifically to at least a portion of a substance applied onthe plate PL, only the portion of the substance applied on the plate PLbound specifically to the liquid substance SB may be absorbed into thepatch PA when the patch PA is brought into contact with and thenseparated from the substance applied on the plate PL.

As yet another example, a portion of the substance applied on the platePL may react specifically with a substance fixed to the plate PL inadvance. In this case, only a remaining substance, excluding thesubstance that reacts specifically with the substance fixed to the platePL in advance of the substance being applied to the plate PL, may beabsorbed into the patch PA.

FIGS. 14 to 16 illustrate absorption of a substance from an externalplate PL by the patch PA as an example of absorption of a substance fromamong the functions of the patch PA according to the presentapplication. According to FIGS. 14 to 16 , the patch PA may absorb aportion of a substance placed on the external plate PL from the externalplate PL. The absorption of the substance may be performed by the patchPA coming into contact with the external plate PL, the water film WFbeing formed in the vicinity of a contact region between the externalplate PL and the patch PA, and the substance being movable to the patchPA through the water film WF.

Here, it will be assumed that a substance is absorbed into the patch PAfrom the substance having fluidity SL. The substance having fluidity SLmay refer to a liquid external substance that is held in othercontaining space or that is flowing. More specifically, by having anenvironment in which the substance having fluidity SL and the liquidsubstance SB captured in the patch PA may flow to and from each other, aportion of or the entire substance having fluidity SL may be absorbedinto the patch PA. In this case, the environment in which the substancehaving fluidity SL and the liquid substance SB may flow to and from eachother may be formed by the patch PA coming into contact with at least aportion of the substance having fluidity SL.

When the patch PA comes into contact with the substance having fluiditySL, the patch PA may be in a state in which a substance is movable fromthe substance having fluidity SL. When the patch PA is separated fromthe substance having fluidity SL, at least a portion of the substancehaving fluidity SL may be absorbed into the patch PA.

The absorption of a substance into the patch PA from the substancehaving fluidity SL may depend on a concentration difference between thesubstance captured in the patch PA and the substance having fluidity SL.In other words, when the concentration of the liquid substance SBcaptured in the patch PA with respect to a predetermined additivesubstance AS is lower than the concentration of the substance havingfluidity SL with respect to the predetermined additive substance AS, thepredetermined additive substance AS may be absorbed into the patch PA.

When a substance is absorbed into the patch PA from the substance havingfluidity SL, in addition to the absorption depending on theconcentration difference while the patch PA and the substance havingfluidity SL are in contact as described above, the absorption into thepatch PA may also be controlled by adding an electrical factor orchanging a physical condition. Further, without direct contact betweenthe substance captured in the patch PA and a substance to be absorbed,the absorption of a substance may also be performed through indirectcontact therebetween via a medium.

FIGS. 17 to 19 illustrate absorption of a substance from the substancehaving fluidity SL by the patch PA as an example of absorption of asubstance from among the functions of the patch PA according to thepresent application. According to FIGS. 17 to 19 , the patch PA mayabsorb a portion of the substance having fluidity SL. The absorption ofa substance may be performed by the patch PA being immersed into thesubstance having fluidity SL or coming into contact with the substancehaving fluidity SL so that the liquid substance SB captured in the patchPA and the substance having fluidity SL are movable to and from eachother.

Here, it will be assumed that the patch PA absorbs an external substancefrom another patch PA.

The absorption of an external substance from another patch PA by thepatch PA may be performed due to a difference in binding force betweenthe absorbed external substance and the substance already captured inthe patch PA and between the absorbed external substance and theexternal substance not absorbed into the patch PA. For example, when theabsorbed substance exhibits hydrophilic property, the patch PA exhibitshydrophilic property, and an attractive force between the absorbedsubstance and the patch PA is stronger than an attractive force betweenthe other patch PA and the absorbed substance (that is, when the patchPA is more hydrophilic than the other patch PA), at least a portion ofthe external substance may be absorbed into the patch PA when the patchPA and the other patch PA are separated after being brought intocontact.

FIGS. 20 to 22 illustrate absorption of a substance from another patchPA4 by a patch PA3 as an example of absorption of a substance among thefunctions of the patch PA according to the present application.According to FIGS. 20 to 22 , the patch PA3 may absorb a portion of asubstance placed in the other patch PA4. The absorption of the substancemay be performed by the patch PA3 coming into contact with the otherpatch PA4 so that a liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA3 and aliquid substance SB captured in the other patch PA4 are exchangeable.

A binding force of the patch PA to the external substance absorbedthereinto may be changed in accordance with a proportion of a framestructural body of the three-dimensional mesh structural body NSconstituting the patch PA with respect to the total volume of the patchPA. For example, as the proportion of a volume occupied by the framestructural body in the entire patch PA increases, the amount ofsubstance captured in the structural body may be reduced. In this case,a binding force between the patch PA and a target substance may bereduced due to a reason such as reduction in a contact area between thetarget substance and the substance captured in the patch PA.

In relation to this, ratios of materials that constitutes the meshstructural body NS may be adjusted during manufacturing process of thepatch PA so that polarity of the patch PA is controlled. For example, inthe case of a patch PA manufactured using agarose, a concentration ofthe agarose may be controlled to adjust a degree of the absorption.

When the certain region has a weaker binding force than the patch PAwith respect to a substance provided from the patch PA, and the patch PAand another patch PA are brought into contact and then separated, theabsorbed external substance may be separated from the other patch PAalong with the patch PA.

2.2.4.3 Providing of Environment

Due to the above-described characteristics, the patch PA according tothe present application may perform a function of adjusting anenvironmental condition of a desired region. The patch PA may provide anenvironment due to the patch PA to the desired region.

The environmental condition due to the patch PA may depend on the liquidsubstance SB captured in the patch PA. The patch PA may create a desiredenvironment in a substance placed in an external region on the basis ofcharacteristics of a substance accommodated in the patch PA or for apurpose of making the environment correspond to characteristics of thesubstance accommodated in the patch PA.

The adjustment of the environment may be understood as changing anenvironmental condition of the desired region. The changing of theenvironmental condition of the desired region may be implemented in aform in which a region affected by the patch PA is expanded to includeat least a portion of the desired region or a form in which anenvironment of the patch PA is shared with the desired region.

Hereinafter, for convenience, the above-described function of the patchPA will be referred to as “providing of an environment.”

The providing of an environment by the patch PA may be performed in astate in which a substance is movable between the patch PA and anexternal region subject to provide the environment. The providing of anenvironment by the patch PA may be performed through contact. Forexample, when the patch PA comes into contact with a desired region (forexample, an external substance, a plate PL, or the like), a specificenvironment may be provided to the desired region by the patch PA.

The patch PA may adjust an environment of a target region TA byproviding an environment with an appropriate pH, osmotic pressure,humidity level, concentration, temperature, and the like. For example,the patch PA may provide fluidity (liquidity) to the target region TA ora target substance. Such providing of fluidity may occur due to movementof a portion of a substance captured in the patch PA. A moistenvironment may be provided to the target region TA through the liquidsubstance SB or the base substance BS captured in the patch PA.

The environmental factors provided by the patch PA may be constantlymaintained in accordance with a purpose. For example, the patch PA mayprovide homeostasis to the desired region. As another example, as aresult of providing an environment, the substance captured in the patchPA may be adapted to an environmental condition of the desired region

The providing of an environment by the patch PA may result fromdiffusion of the liquid substance SB included in the patch PA. That is,when the patch PA and the desired region come into contact, a substancemay be movable through a contact region that is formed due to contactbetween the patch PA and the desired region. In relation to this, anenvironmental change due to an osmotic pressure, an environmental changedue to a change in ionic concentration, providing of a moistenvironment, and a change in a pH level may be implemented in accordancewith a direction in which the substance is diffused.

FIGS. 23 to 25 illustrate providing of a predetermined environment to anexternal plate PL by the patch PA as an example of providing of anenvironment among the functions of the patch PA according to the presentapplication. According to FIGS. 23 to 25 , the patch PA may provide apredetermined environment to an external plate PL on which a fourthsubstance SB4 and a fifth substance SB5 are placed. For example, thepatch PA may provide a predetermined environment to the plate PL for thefourth substance SB4 and the fifth substance SB5 to react and form asixth substance SB6. The providing of the environment may be performedby the patch PA coming into contact with the plate PL so that a waterfilm WF is formed in the vicinity of a contact region and the fourthsubstance SB4 and the fifth substance SB5 are captured in the water filmWF.

3. Application of Patch

The patch PA according to the present application may be implemented toperform various functions by suitably applying the above-describedfunctions of the patch PA.

The technical spirit of the present application will be described belowby disclosing some embodiments. However, the technical scope to whichfunctions of the patch PA disclosed by the present application areapplied may be interpreted in a broad sense within the scope that may beeasily derived by those of ordinary skill in the art, and the scope ofthe present application should not be interpreted as being limited bythe embodiments disclosed herein.

3.1. In-Patch

The patch PA may provide a reaction region for a substance. In otherwords, a reaction of a substance may occur in at least a portion of aspatial region affected by the patch PA. In this case, the reaction of asubstance may be a reaction between liquid substances SB captured in thepatch PA and/or a reaction between the captured liquid substance SB anda substance provided from the outside of the patch PA. The providing ofa reaction region for a substance may activate or promote a reaction ofa substance.

In this case, the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA mayinclude at least one of a substance added upon manufacturing the patchPA, a substance additive into the patch PA after the manufacturing ofthe patch PA and contained in the patch PA, and a substance temporarilycaptured in the patch PA. In other words, regardless of a form in whicha substance is captured in the patch PA, any substance captured in thepatch PA at a time point at which a reaction in the patch PA isactivated may react in the patch PA. Further, a substance injected afterthe manufacturing of the patch PA may also act as a reaction initiator.

The providing of a reaction region for a reaction related to the liquidsubstance SB captured in the patch PA may be a concept subordinate, interms of embodiment, to the above-described Section 2.1.3 (that is,providing of reaction space). Alternatively, the providing of a reactionregion for a reaction related to the liquid substance SB captured in thepatch PA may consist of multiple concepts that perform combinedfunctions of the above-described Section 2.1.3 and Section 2.2.4.2 (thatis, absorption). The providing of a reaction region for a reactionrelated to the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA is notlimited thereto and may be implemented in the form in which two or morefunctions are combined.

3.1.1 First Embodiment

Hereinafter, description will be given by assuming that the function ofabsorption into the patch PA and the function of providing of a reactionspace (hereinafter referred to as “providing function”) are performed bya single patch PA. In this case, the absorption function and theproviding function may be simultaneously-performed functions, functionsperformed at different time points, or functions sequentially performedto perform another function. The patch PA further including otherfunctions in addition to the absorption and providing functions may alsobe considered as belonging to the present embodiment.

As described above, the patch PA may perform a function of capturing asubstance, and the substance may have fluidity even when the substanceis captured. When some components of the liquid substance SB arenon-uniformly distributed, the non-uniform components may be diffused.Even when components of the liquid substance SB are uniformlydistributed, the liquid substance SB may have a predetermined level ofmobility due to irregular motion of particles. In this case, a reactionbetween substances, for example, specific binding between substances,may occur inside the patch PA.

For example, in the patch PA, in addition to a reaction between capturedsubstances, a reaction in a form in which a substance having fluiditythat is newly captured in the patch PA and the substance that has beencaptured in the patch PA bind specifically to each other may also bepossible.

The reaction between the substance having fluidity and the substancethat has been captured in the patch PA may also occur after thesubstance patch being separated from an space that has been provided.For example, after the patch PA absorbs the substance having fluidityfrom an arbitrary space, the patch PA may be separated from thearbitrary space, and a reaction between the absorbed substance and thesubstance that has been captured in the patch PA may occur in the patchPA.

In addition, the patch PA may allow a reaction of a substance capturedtherein to occur by performing the absorption function with respect to asubstance having fluidity. In other words, the absorption of thesubstance having fluidity by the patch PA may act as a trigger for areaction between the absorbed substance and the substance that has beencaptured in the patch PA. The reaction may occur inside a space definedby the patch PA.

A composition of the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA may bechanged due to the reaction occurring inside the patch PA. When,particularly, a substance captured inside the patch PA is a compound, achemical composition thereof may be changed before and after a reaction.Alternatively, a composition distribution of a substance may be changedin accordance with a position of the substance in the patch PA. Forexample, this may be due to diffusion or particles having an attractiveforce specific to another substance.

When the composition of the liquid substance SB is changed due to areaction inside the patch PA, a portion of the substance may be absorbedinto the patch PA due to a concentration difference between the patch PAand a substance outside the patch PA (when a substance in contact withthe patch PA is present, the corresponding substance), or the substancemay be released from the patch PA to the substance outside the patch PA.

3.1.2 Second Embodiment

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the containing function of the patchPA and the function of providing of a reaction space for a substance areperformed together for at least a predetermined amount of time will bedescribed. More specifically, the patch PA may perform a function ofproviding a space for at least a portion of the liquid substance SBcontained in the patch PA to react.

The patch PA may contain a substance and provide a reaction space forthe contained substance. In this case, the reaction space provided bythe patch PA may be the micro-cavities formed by the mesh structuralbody NS of the patch PA or a surface region of the patch PA.Particularly, when a substance contained in the patch PA and a substanceapplied on a surface of the patch PA react, the reaction space may bethe surface region of the patch PA.

The reaction space provided by the patch PA may serve to provide aspecific environmental condition. While a reaction occurs in the liquidsubstance SB placed in the patch PA, an environmental condition of thereaction may be adjusted by the patch PA. For example, the patch PA mayserve as a buffer solution.

By containing a substance through a mesh structure, the patch PA doesnot require a container, separately. When the reaction space of thepatch PA is a surface of the patch PA, a reaction may be easily observedthrough the surface of the patch PA. For this, the shape of the patch PAmay be deformed into a shape that facilitates the observation.

The liquid substance SB contained in the patch PA may be denaturalizedor react with a different type of substance. The composition of theliquid substance SB contained in the patch PA may be changed with time.

The reaction may refer to a chemical reaction in which a chemicalformula is changed, a physical state change, or a biological reaction.In this case, the liquid substance SB contained in the patch PA may be asubstance formed of a single component or a mixture including aplurality of components.

3.2 Providing of Movement Path (Channeling)

Hereinafter, the patch PA that performs a function of providing asubstance movement path will be described. More specifically, asdescribed above, the patch PA may capture, absorb, release, and/orcontain a substance having fluidity. Various embodiments of the patch PAthat performs the function of providing a substance movement path may beimplemented by each of the above-described functions of the patch PA ora combination thereof. However, a few embodiments will be disclosed fora better understanding.

3.2.1 Third Embodiment

The patch PA may be implemented to perform functions described inSection 2.2.4.1 (that is, the section related to delivery) and Section2.2.4.2 (that is, the section related to absorption) among theabove-described functions of the patch PA. In this case, the absorptionfunction and the delivery function may be provided together orsequentially provided.

The patch PA may perform the absorption and delivery functions togetherto provide a substance movement path. Particularly, the patch PA mayabsorb an external substance and provide the absorbed external substanceto an external region, thereby providing a movement path to the externalsubstance.

The providing of the movement path of the external substance by thepatch PA may be performed by absorbing the external substance andreleasing the external substance. More specifically, the patch PA maycome into contact with the external substance, absorb the externalsubstance, come into contact with the external region, and deliver theexternal substance to the external region. In this case, the capturingof the external substance and the delivery of the captured externalsubstance to the external region by the patch PA may be performedthrough a process similar to those of the above-described absorption anddelivery.

The external substance absorbed into the patch PA and provided may be ina liquid phase or a solid phase.

In this way, the patch PA may allow a portion of the external substanceto be provided to another external substance. The external substance andthe other external substance may simultaneously come into contact withthe patch PA. The external substance and the other external substancemay come into contact with the patch PA at different time points.

The external substance and the other external substance may come intocontact with the patch PA at different time points. When the externalsubstances come into contact with the patch PA at different time points,the external substance may come into contact with the patch PA first,and after the external substance and the patch PA are separated, thepatch PA and the other external substance may come into contact. In thiscase, the patch PA may temporarily contain a substance captured from theexternal substance.

The patch PA may simultaneously provide a substance movement path andadditionally provide a time delay. The patch PA may perform a functionof suitably adjusting an amount of substance provided to anotherexternal substance and a speed of such providing.

Such a series of processes may be carried out in one direction withrespect to the patch PA. As a specific example, absorption of asubstance may be performed through a surface of the patch PA, anenvironment may be provided in an inner space of the patch PA, and thesubstance may be released through another surface facing the surface.

3.2.2 Fourth Embodiment

The patch PA may perform the absorbing and releasing of a substanceamong the above-described functions of the patch PA and the providing ofa reaction space for the substance simultaneously. In this case, theabsorption and release of the substance and the providing of thereaction space may be performed simultaneously or sequentially.

According to an embodiment, in performing the processes of absorbing andreleasing an external substance, the patch PA may provide a reactionspace to the absorbed external substance for at least a predeterminedamount of time. The patch PA may provide a specific environment for atleast some time to the liquid substance SB captured in the patch PA,including the absorbed external substance.

The liquid substance SB that has been captured in the patch PA and theexternal substance captured in the patch PA may react inside the patchPA. The external substance absorbed into the patch PA may be affected byan environment provided by the patch PA. The substance released from thepatch PA may include at least a portion of a substance generated throughthe reaction. The external substance may be released from the patch PAafter the composition, characteristics, and the like of the externalsubstance are changed.

The absorbed substance may be released from the patch PA. The externalsubstance being absorbed into the patch PA and being released from thepatch PA may be understood as the external substance passing through thepatch PA. The external substance that has passed through the patch PAmay lose integrity due to a reaction inside the patch PA or an influenceof an environment provided by the patch PA.

The above-described processes of absorption of an external substance,reaction of a substance, and providing of the substance may be carriedout in one direction. In other words, the absorption of a substance maybe performed at one position of the patch PA, the providing of anenvironment may be performed at another position of the patch PA, andthe release of the substance may be performed at yet another position ofthe patch PA.

FIGS. 26 to 28 illustrate providing of a substance movement path betweentwo plates PL as an embodiment of the patch PA according to the presentapplication. According to FIGS. 26 to 28 , the patch PA may provide asubstance movement path between a plate PL1 on which a seventh substanceSB7 is applied and a plate PL2 on which an eighth substance SB8 isapplied. As a specific example, when the seventh substance SB7 iscapable of binding to the eighth substance, and the eighth substance isfixed to the plate PL2, the patch PA may come into contact with theplates PL1 and PL2 so that the seventh substance SB7 is moved throughthe patch PA and bound to the eighth substance SB8. The seventhsubstance SB7 and the eighth substance SB8 may be connected to the patchPA through a water film WF formed by the patch PA coming into contactwith the plates PL1 and PL2.

FIGS. 29 and 30 illustrate providing of a substance movement pathbetween two patches as an embodiment of the patch PA according to thepresent application. According to FIGS. 29 and 30 , a patch PA6configured to provide the movement path may be in contact with a patchPA5 configured to contain a substance to be moved, and a patch PA7configured to receive the substance to be moved. The patch PA6configured to provide the movement path may come into contact with thepatch PA5 configured to contain the substance to be moved and the patchPA7 configured to receive the substance to be moved, and the substanceto be moved may be moved to the patch PA7 configured to receive thesubstance to be moved. The movement of the substance between the patchesmay be performed by a water film WF formed in the vicinity of a contactregion between the patches.

FIGS. 31 and 32 illustrate providing of a substance movement pathbetween two patches as an embodiment of the patch according to thepresent application. According to FIGS. 29 and 30 , a patch PA9configured to provide the movement path may be in contact with a patchPA8 configured to contain a ninth substance SB9 and a patch PA10configured to receive a substance. The patch PA9 providing the movementpath may come into contact with the patch PA8 configured to contain theninth substance SB9 to absorb the ninth substance SB9. The absorbedninth substance SB9 may react with a tenth substance SB10 contained inthe patch PA9, which is configured to provide the movement path, andgenerate an eleventh substance. An eleventh substance SB11 may beprovided from the patch PA9 configured to provide the movement path tothe patch PA10 configured to receive the substance. The movement of asubstance between the patches PA may be performed through a water filmWF formed in the vicinity of a contact region between the patches PA.

3.3 Multi-Patch

A patch PA may be solely used, or a plurality of patches PA may be usedtogether. In this case, the plurality of patches PA being able to beused together includes a case in which the plurality of patches PA aresequentially used as well as a case in which the plurality of patches PAare used simultaneously.

When the plurality of patches PA are used simultaneously, the patches PAmay perform different functions. Although each patch PA of the pluralityof patches PA may contain the same substance, the plurality of patchesPA may also contain different substances.

When the plurality of patches PA are used simultaneously, the patches PAmay not come into contact with each other such that substance movementdoes not occur between the patches PA, or a desired function may beperformed in a state in which substances contained in the patches PA areexchangeable.

Although the plurality of patches PA used together may be manufacturedin shapes similar to each other or in the same size, the plurality ofpatches PA may be used together even when the plurality of patches PAhave different shapes. Each patch PA constituting the plurality ofpatches PA may be manufactured such that densities of the meshstructural bodies NS are different or components constituting the meshstructural bodies NS are different.

3.3.1 Contact with Plurality of Patches

When a plurality of patches PA are used, the plurality of patches PA maycome into contact with a single target region TA. The plurality ofpatches PA may come into contact with the single target region TA andperform a desired function.

When a plurality of target regions TA are present, the plurality ofpatches PA may come into contact with different target regions TA. Whenthe plurality of target regions TA are present, the plurality of patchesPA may respectively come into contact with corresponding target regionsTA and perform a desired function.

The plurality of patches PA may come into contact with a substanceapplied on the target region TA. In this case, the substance applied onthe target region TA may be fixed or have fluidity.

The desired function may be a function of providing or absorbing thesubstance. However, each patch PA does not necessarily provide the samesubstance or absorb the same substance, and the patches PA may providedifferent substances to the target region TA or absorb differentcomponents from a substance placed in the target region TA.

The desired function may be different for each patch PA constituting theplurality of patches PA. For example, one patch PA may perform thefunction of providing a substance to the target region TA, and anotherpatch PA may perform the function of absorbing the substance from thetarget region TA.

The plurality of patches PA may include different substances, and thedifferent substances may be provided to a single target region TA andused to induce a desired reaction. When a plurality of components of asubstance is required for the desired reaction to occur, the pluralityof components may be contained in a plurality of patches PA respectivelyand provided to the target region TA. Such use of the plurality ofpatches PA may be particularly useful when properties of substancesrequired for a desired reaction are lost or altered when the substancesrequired for the reaction being mixed for reasons such as beingcontained in a single patch PA.

According to an embodiment, when the plurality of patches PA includesubstances formed of different components, and the substances formed ofdifferent components have different specific binding relationships, thesubstances formed of different components may be provided to the targetregion TA. The plurality of patches PA may be used to detect a pluralityof specific bindings from the substances applied on the target regionTA, by providing the substances including different components.

According to another embodiment, the plurality of patches PA may includesubstances formed of the same component, but each patch PA may have adifferent concentration with respect to the substance formed of the samecomponent. The plurality of patches PA including the substances formedof the same component may come into contact with the target region TAand be used to determine an influence in accordance with a concentrationof the substance included in the plurality of patches PA.

When the plurality of patches PA are used as described above, thepatches PA may be grouped into more efficient forms and used. In otherwords, the configuration of the plurality of patches PA being used maybe changed every time the plurality of patches PA are used. Theplurality of patches PA may be manufactured in the form of a cartridgeand used. In this case, the form of each patch PA being used may besuitably standardized and manufactured.

The plurality of patches PA in the form of a cartridge may be suitablewhen patches PA configured to contain a plurality of types of substancesare manufactured to be used by being chosen as necessary.

Particularly, when attempting to detect a specific reaction of eachsubstance from the target region TA using a plurality of types ofsubstances, a combination of specific reactions to be detected may bechanged every time the detection is performed.

FIG. 33 illustrates a case in which the plurality of patches PA are usedtogether as an embodiment of the patch PA according to the presentapplication. According to FIG. 33 , the plurality of patches PAaccording to an embodiment of the present application may simultaneouslycome into contact with a target region TA placed on a plate PL. Thepatches PA constituting the plurality of patches PA may have astandardized form. The plurality of patches PA may include a first patchand a second patch, and a substance contained in the first patch may bedifferent from a substance contained in the second patch.

FIG. 34 illustrates a case in which the plurality of patches PA are usedand the plate PL includes a plurality of target regions TA. According toFIG. 34 , the plurality of patches PA according to an embodiment of thepresent application may simultaneously come into contact with theplurality of target regions TA placed on the plate PL. The plurality ofpatches PA may include a first patch PA and a second patch PA, theplurality of target regions TA may include a first target region and asecond target region, and the first patch may come into contact with thefirst target region and the second patch may come into contact with thesecond target region.

3.3.2 Fifth Embodiment

The plurality of patches PA may perform a plurality of functions. Asdescribed above, the patches PA may simultaneously perform a pluralityof functions, and the patches PA may also simultaneously performdifferent functions. However, embodiments are not limited to the above,and the functions may also be combined and performed in the plurality ofpatches PA.

First, in the case in which the patches PA simultaneously perform theplurality of functions, the patches PA may perform both containing andrelease of a substance. For example, the patches PA may containdifferent substances and release substances contained in the targetregions TA. In this case, the contained substances may be simultaneouslyor sequentially released.

Next, in the case in which the patches PA simultaneously performdifferent functions, the patches PA may separately perform containingand release of a substance. In this case, only some of the patches PAmay come into contact with a target region TA and release a substance tothe target region TA.

3.3.3 Sixth Embodiment

When a plurality of patches PA are used, as described above, theplurality of patches PA may perform a plurality of functions. First, thepatches PA may simultaneously perform containing, releasing, andabsorbing of substances. Alternatively, the patches PA may alsoseparately perform the containing, releasing, and absorbing of thesubstances. However, embodiments are not limited thereto, and thefunctions may also be combined and performed in the plurality of patchesPA.

For example, at least some of the plurality of patches PA may contain asubstance and release the contained substance to the target region TA.In this case, at least a remainder of the plurality of patches PA mayabsorb a substance from the target region TA. Some of the plurality ofpatches PA may release a substance that binds specifically to asubstance placed in the target region TA. In this case, specific bindingmay be detected by absorption of a substance that has not formedspecific binding from the substance placed in the target region TA usinganother patch PA.

3.3.4 Seventh Embodiment

When a plurality of patches PA are used, the patches PA maysimultaneously perform containing and release of a substance andproviding of an environment. Alternatively, the patches PA mayseparately perform the containing and release of a substance andproviding of an environment. However, embodiments are not limitedthereto, and the functions may also be performed in combination in theplurality of patches PA.

For example, a patch PA among the plurality of patches PA may release asubstance contained therein to the target region TA. In this case,another patch PA may provide an environment to the target region TA.Here, the providing of an environment may be implemented in the form inwhich an environmental condition of a substance contained in the otherpatch PA is provided to the target region TA. More specifically, areacting substance may be provided to the target region TA by the patchPA, and the other patch PA may come into contact with the target regionTA and provide a buffering environment.

As another example, the plurality of patches PA may be in contact witheach other. In this case, at least one patch PA may contain a substanceand release the substance contained therein to another patch PAconfigured to provide an environment. In the present embodiment, thepatch PA configured to provide an environment may release a substance,come into contact with at least one other patch PA that is not incontact with the patch PA configured to provide an environment, andabsorb a substance from the patch PA.

4. Immunoassay 4.1 Meaning

The patch of the present application may be used in an immunoassay.Immunoassay refers to performing diagnosis in accordance with a testresult obtained through an immunological technique. As an example ofimmunoassay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (hereinafter, “ELISA”) ismainly used.

Hereinafter, unless particularly described otherwise, it will be assumedthat description herein is about immunoanalysis for the purpose ofdiagnosis. However, it is obvious that the technical spirit of thedisclosure and embodiments described herein may be applied throughoutthe field of analysis (that is, immunoanalysis) using anantigen-antibody reaction, in addition to being applied to practices forthe purpose of diagnosis.

In applying the patch of the present application to immunoassay, theabove-described basic substance BS and the additive substance AS may besuitably changed in accordance with a site to which the patch isapplied.

Prior to examining specific embodiments, the types of immunoassay andmethods of performing the same will be examined.

4.1.1 Classification of Immunoassay

Immunoassay may be classified in accordance with various standards.

Immunoassay may be classified, in accordance with methods of performingthe same, into: 1) a direct technique (or direct ELISA) in which anantigen is fixated on a plate PL and an enzyme is directly bound to anantibody which reacts with the antigen so that an amount of antigen isdetected; 2) an indirect technique (or indirect ELISA) in which anantigen is fixated on a plate and a primary antibody which reacts withthe antigen and a secondary antibody which bind to the primary antibodyand has an enzyme bound thereto are used to detect an amount of antigen;3) a sandwich technique (or sandwich ELISA) in which an antibody relatedto an antigen is fixated on a plate PL first, the antigen is bound tothe antibody, and the direct technique or the indirect technique is usedto detect the antigen; and 4) a competitive quantitative technique (orcompetitive ELISA) in which two antigens that compete for the samebinding portion of an antibody are used to measure a concentration of anantigen.

Immunoassay may also be classified in accordance with target samples.Immunoassay may be classified as an immunochemical technique when atarget sample is a bodily fluid, an immunocytochemical technique when asample is cells, and as an immunohistochemical technique when a sampleis a tissue. Immunoassay on a bodily fluid may be used in diagnosisthrough detection of target proteins such as antigens that float.Immunoassay on cells may be used in detection of target proteins such asantigens present on surfaces of or inside cells. Immunoassay on a tissuemay be performed by detecting target proteins present on surfaces of orinside cells or determining distribution of target proteins in thetissue.

Immunoassay may also be classified in accordance with detection methods.There is a method in which color development due to a product of anenzyme-substrate reaction is observed (colorimetric), a method in whichluminescence due to a chemical reaction is detected (chemiluminescence),and a method in which fluorescence is detected (chemifluorescence). Whencolor development is measured, a spectrophotometer is mostly used. Whenfluorescence is measured, a fluorometer on which a filter is mounted ismostly used, and when luminescence is measured, a luminometer is mostlyused.

4.1.2 ELISA

ELISA is an example of immunoassay and refers to a diagnostic method fordetecting a substance, in particular, an antigen. More specifically,ELISA refers to a method in which an antibody or an antigen is attachedto an enzyme and an activity of the enzyme is measured to quantitativelymeasure a strength of an antigen-antibody reaction and an amountthereof. Since an antibody or an antigen may be attached onto a solidphase object and free, unbound antigens or antibodies may be removedthrough washing according to ELISA, ELISA facilitates detection of adesired result. Hereinafter, unless particularly mentioned otherwise,immunoassay is assumed to be referring to immunoassay using ELISA.

4.2 Performance of Immunoassay 4.2.1 Preparation for Sample 4.2.1.1Types of Sample

Samples used in an immunoassay may be mainly classified into bodilyfluids, cells, and tissues, each of which may require a process of beingappropriately processed for use.

Bodily fluid samples used in an immunoassay may include blood, urine,saliva, and the like. Particularly, for blood, although whole blood maybe used, blood may also be separated into serums, plasmas, blood cellsand the like, and each of the components of blood may be used fordetection.

Cell samples used in an immunoassay may include whole blood, culturedcells, cell suspensions, and the like.

Hereinafter, unless particularly mentioned otherwise, it will be assumedthat a sample is a tissue in an immunoassay according to the presentapplication.

4.2.1.2 Preparation of Each Type of Sample

Preparation of a sample used in an immunoassay will be described. Amethod of preparing a sample used in diagnosis may differ in accordancewith a method of performing diagnosis. Hereinafter, a case in which thepatch PA of the present application is used and diagnosis is performedon a sample located on a plate PL will be described.

Here, “plate PL” may refer to a general slide glass or a solid platesuch as a plate manufactured with polystyrene, polypropylene or thelike. A form of a bottom or transparency of the plate PL may bedifferent in accordance with a detection methods. For example, in a casethat light is desired to be detected, a white plate or a black plate maybe used as the plate PL. Also, for example, in a case that colordevelopment is desired to be detected, a transparent plate with a flatbottom may be used as the plate PL. The plate PL may include a reactionregion which contact with the patch PA or in which a desired reactionmay occur.

When immunoassay is performed on bodily fluid, the bodily fluid may beused in diagnosis in a state in which the bodily fluid is fixated on theplate PL. In other words, the bodily fluid may be used in a state inwhich the bodily fluid is smeared on the plate PL and fixated thereto.Alternatively, the bodily fluid may be used in a state in which thebodily fluid is smeared on the plate PL. For example, the bodily fluidmay be smeared on the plate PL to which an antibody is fixated.

When immunoassay is performed on cells, blood or suspensions of thecells may be smeared on the plate PL and dried to perform diagnosis.Alternatively, blood or suspensions of the cells may be smeared on theplate PL and used. For example, blood or suspensions of the cells may besmeared on the plate PL to which an antibody is fixated, and diagnosismay be performed. When immunoassay is performed on cells, diagnosis maybe performed on cells that have gone through cytolysis or cells thathave not gone through cytolysis.

When immunoassay is performed on tissues, a section or thin piece oftissue may be placed on the plate PL, and diagnosis may be performed. Asection of tissue may be a section of tissue filled with paraffin or afrozen section of tissue.

4.2.2 Preparation for Patch

In performing immunoassay in the present application, theabove-described patch PA may be used.

The patch PA may contain an antigen and provide the antigen to the platePL. The patch PA may also contain a biopsy specimen, i.e., sample, thatincludes an antigen and provide the biopsy specimen to the plate PL.

The patch PA may contain an antibody AB and deliver the antibody AB tothe plate PL. When an indirect technique is used, the antibody ABcontained in the patch PA may be a primary antibody AB or a secondaryantibody AB. In other words, the patch PA may contain the primaryantibody AB or the secondary antibody AB. Further, the patch PA may alsosimultaneously contain the primary antibody AB and the secondaryantibody AB and provide the primary antibody AB and the secondaryantibody AB to the plate PL. The antibody AB may also be contained inthe patch in a state being attached to a particle.

The patch PA may contain a substrate SU that performs a reactioncatalyzed by the enzyme and provide the substrate SU to the plate PL.The substrate SU used may vary in accordance with an enzyme being usedand a detection means. The substrate SU may be a 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)),3,3′,5,5′-Tetramethylbenzidine (TMB), or the like.

The patch PA may contain a washing solution and absorb residue from theplate PL. Impurities on the plate PL or an antibody AB that has notbound specifically may be absorbed and removed from the plate PL by thepatch PA containing the washing solution being brought into contact withthe patch PA and then separated therefrom. The washing solution usedabove may be a tris buffered saline (TBS) or phosphate buffered saline(PBS) with Tween 20.

The patch PA may contain a buffer solution and provide an environmentfor the plate PL. In this case, the buffer solution may serve tofacilitate each step of the immunoassay. Therefore, a buffer solutionused in each step may contain different components. As an example of thebuffer solution, a peroxide buffer may be used when detectingchemiluminescence.

The patch PA may contain an interruption solution for interrupting asubstrate SU-enzyme reaction. That is, a reaction interruption patch PAmay be manufactured, and the interruption solution may be provided tothe plate PL using the reaction interruption patch PA to interrupt asubstrate SU-enzyme reaction at an appropriate time point.

Performance of immunoassay using the patch PA will be described indetail below.

4.2.3 Methods of Immunoassay

A few typical examples of a methods of performing immunoassay using thepatch PA and the plate PL of the present application as described abovewill be described.

However, the immunoassay method of the present disclosure is not limitedto the examples which will be described below, and since a plurality ofmodified detection methods may be present, any immunoassay methodperformed using the patch PA may be applied as the immunoassay method ofthe present disclosure.

4.2.3.1 Direct Case

Immunoassay according to a direct technique may be performed using thepatch PA and the plate PL of the present application.

The immunoassay according to a direct technique using the patch PA andthe plate PL may be understood as being performed by fixating a sample(antigens) to the plate PL, applying an antibody AB that bindspecifically to antigens desired to be detected and have enzymesattached thereto as identification labels, removing antibodies AB thathave not bound specifically, and detecting a reaction of a substrate SUcatalyzed by the enzymes. In this case, the patch PA according to thepresent application may be used in the applying of the antibodies AB andremoving of the antibodies AB that have not bound specifically.

The above detection method will be described below in detail in“Detection methods of immunoassay” section.

4.2.3.2 Indirect Case

Immunoassay according to an indirect technique may be performed usingthe patch PA and the plate PL of the present application.

The immunoassay according to an indirect technique using the patch PAand the plate PL may be understood as being performed by fixating asample (or antigens) to the plate PL, applying an antibody AB (that is,primary antibody AB) that bind specifically to antigens desired to bedetected, removing primary antibody AB that have not bound specifically,applying antibodies AB (that is, secondary antibody) that bindspecifically to the primary antibody AB and have enzymes attachedthereto as identification labels, removing secondary antibody AB thathave not bound specifically to the primary antibody AB, and detecting areaction catalyzed by the enzymes on the plate PL. In this case, thepatch PA according to the present application may be used in theapplying of the antibody AB and removing of the antibody AB that havenot bound specifically.

The above detection method will be described below in detail in the“Detection methods of immunoassay” section.

4.2.3.3 Sandwich Case

Immunoassay according to a sandwich technique may be performed using thepatch PA and the plate PL of the present application.

The immunoassay according to a sandwich technique using the patch PA andthe plate PL may be performed by fixating antibodies AB to the plate PL,applying a sample (or antigens) on the plate PL, applying antibodies ABthat bind specifically to antigens desired to be detected, and removingantigens or antibodies AB that have not bound specifically. In thiscase, the applying of the antibodies AB that bind specifically to theantigens may be performed by the above-described direction technique orindirect technique. In other words, the applying of the antibodies ABthat bind specifically to the antigens may be performed by applyingantibodies AB that bind specifically to the antigens and have enzymesattached thereto. Alternatively, the applying of the antibodies AB thatbind specifically to the antigens may include applying primaryantibodies AB that bind specifically to the antigens and applyingantibodies AB that react specifically with the primary antibodies AB andhave enzymes attached thereto as identification labels. The patch PAaccording to the present application may be used in the applying of theantibodies AB.

The above detection method will be described below in detail in“Detection methods of immunoassay” section.

4.2.4 Detection Methods of Immunoassay

Detection of a diagnosis result of immunoassay using the patch PA andthe plate PL of the present application may be performed using variousdetection methods.

The detection methods may be selectively used in accordance with aproduct produced due to a reaction between the enzyme and the substrateSU. In other words, enzymes may have been attached as labels to theantibodies AB in the direct technique or the secondary antibodies AB inthe indirect technique, the enzymes attached to the antibodies AB maycatalyze a chemical reaction of the substrate SU and generate a product,and a detection method to be used may be determined in accordance withthe product generated in this case.

When color development due to the generated product is detected, thecolor development may be measured to quantitatively measure specificbinding. The measuring of the color development may be performed bydetecting light that has been emitted from a light source and has passedthrough the plate PL. In other words, the measuring of the colordevelopment may be performed by measuring light absorption. Aspectrophotometer may be used when measuring the color development. Inthis case, preferably, a flat, transparent plate may be used as theplate PL.

In a case that luminescence due to the generated product is desired tobe detected, the luminescence may be measured to quantitatively measurespecific binding. The measuring of the luminescence may be performed bydetecting light emitted from the bottom of the plate PL or a solutionthereabove. A luminometer may be used when the luminescence is measured.When the luminescence is measured, an opaque black plate or an opaquewhite plate may be used as the plate PL.

In a case in which fluorescence due to the generated product is desiredto be detected, the fluorescence may be measured to quantitativelymeasure specific binding. The measuring of the fluorescence may beperformed by making light be incident on the plate PL and measuringfluorescence emitted from the plate PL. A fluorometer with a filterattached thereto may be used when the fluorescence is measured. When thefluorescence is measured, an opaque black plate or an opaque white platemay be used as the plate PL.

A color development image, a luminescence image, or a fluorescence imagemay be acquired. Partial images of an image may be acquired separately,and the acquired partial images may be combined into a single image.Positions at which target antigens/antibodies AB are distributed, shapeof cells, distribution of target proteins in a tissue, or the like maybe obtained from the acquired images. Also, by analyzing the acquiredimages, positions of target proteins, target antigens/antibodies AB, orthe like and partial images of the targets may be acquired.

Detection of a diagnosis result of the immunoassay may also be performedusing an electrochemical method. For example, a change in anelectrochemical characteristic that occurs on the plate PL may bemeasured using the antibodies AB that have bound specifically to asample fixated on the plate PL. Alternatively, a change in anelectrochemical characteristic of the patch PA that occurs due to thepatch PA transferring the antibodies AB to the plate PL may also bemeasured.

4.3 Embodiments of Immunochemistry

FIG. 35 illustrates a flowchart for describing an example of animmunoassay method according to the present application. An immunoassaymethod according to an embodiment of the present application may includeplacing a sample to be diagnosed in a reaction region (S200) andproviding an antibody AB to the reaction region using a patch PA thatcontains antibodies AB that react specifically with target proteinsTP(S300).

The placing of the sample to be diagnosed may be performed through anyone of a method of fixating the sample to the plate PL, a method ofsmearing the sample on the plate PL, and a method of smearing the sampleon the plate and fixating the sample.

In addition to the placing of the sample (S200) and the providing of theantibodies AB to the reaction region (S300), the immunoassay method mayfurther include providing a substrate SU to the reaction region using apatch PA that contains a substrate SU which generates a product througha chemical reaction catalyzed by enzymes attached to the antibodies AB(S400) (see FIG. 36 ).

In addition to the placing of the sample (S200) and the providing of theantibodies AB to the reaction region (S300), the immunoassay method mayfurther include detecting a specific reaction between the antibodies ABand the target proteins TP in order to diagnose a target disease (seeFIG. 37 ).

In this case, the detecting of the specific reaction may includemeasuring a change in an electrical characteristic of the patch PA thatoccurs due to the specific reaction. Alternatively, the detecting of thespecific reaction may be performed by any one of measuring fluorescencethat occurs due to a chemical reaction catalyzed by the enzymes attachedto the antibodies AB that bind specifically to the target proteins TP,measuring luminescence that occurs due to the chemical reaction, andmeasuring color that develops due to the chemical reaction.

The providing of the antibodies AB to the reaction region (S300) mayinclude contacting the patch PA with the reaction region so that theantibodies AB are movable to the reaction region (S310) and separatingthe patch PA from the reaction region (S330), and when the patch PA isseparated from the reaction region, antibodies AB that have not reactedspecifically with the target proteins TP from among the antibodies ABmay be removed from the reaction region (see FIG. 38 ).

In addition to the placing of the sample (S200) and the providing of theantibodies AB to the reaction region (S300), the immunoassay method mayfurther include absorbing the antibodies AB that have not reactedspecifically with the target proteins TP from among the providedantibodies AB from the reaction region by using a washing patch PA(S600) (see FIG. 39 ).

In the immunoassay method, the providing of the antibodies AB to thereaction region (S300) may include providing first antibodies AB to thereaction region using a first patch PA that contains first antibodies ABthat react specifically with the target proteins TP (S320) and providingsecond antibodies AB to the reaction region using a second patch PA thatcontains second antibodies AB that react specifically with the firstantibodies AB (S340) (see FIG. 40 ).

Prior to the placing of the sample to be diagnosed in the reactionregion (S200), the immunoassay method may further include providing theplate PL on which bottom antibodies BAB, which are antibodies AB thatreact specifically with the target proteins TP, are fixated in thereaction region (S100), and the placing of the sample to be diagnosed inthe reaction region may include placing a sample to be diagnosed in thereaction region in which the bottom antibodies BAB are fixated (see FIG.41 ).

In addition to the placing of the sample (S200), the providing of theantibodies AB to the reaction region (S300), and the providing of thesubstrate SU to the reaction region (S400), the immunoassay method mayfurther include interrupting a chemical reaction of the substrate SU(S700) (see FIG. 42 ).

A few embodiments on specific ways for performing immunoassay using thepatch PA and the plate PL will be described below.

4.3.1 Reference Embodiment 1—Indirect ELISA

FIG. 43 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing indirect ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

An immunoassay method using indirect ELISA according to an embodiment ofthe present application may include placing a sample SA in a reactionregion (S200), providing first antibodies AB to the reaction region(S320), providing second antibodies AB to the reaction region (S340),providing a substrate SU to the reaction region (S400), and detecting aspecific reaction between the antibodies AB and target proteins TP(S500).

The immunoassay method using indirect ELISA according to an embodimentof the present application may include the placing of the sample SA inthe reaction region (S200), the providing of the first antibodies AB tothe reaction region (S320), absorbing first antibodies AB that have notreacted specifically with the target proteins TP from the reactionregion (S610), the providing of the second antibodies AB to the reactionregion (S340), absorbing second antibodies AB that have not reactedspecifically with the first antibodies AB from the reaction region(S630), and providing of the substrate SU to the reaction region (S400).(see FIG. 44 ).

Immunoassay according to an embodiment of the present application mayuse a plate PL and a patch PA and be performed by indirect ELISA.

An immunoassay method according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure may include fixating a sample SA to a plate PL, providingprimary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using a first patch PA, andproviding secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using a secondpatch PA.

The fixating of the sample SA on the plate PL may include fixating thesample SA to be diagnosed on the plate PL. The fixating of the sample SAon the plate PL may include drying a bodily fluid sample SA to bediagnosed on the plate PL and fixating the bodily fluid sample SA on theplate PL. The fixating of the sample SA to be diagnosed on the plate PLmay include fixating the section of tissue.

The providing of the primary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using thepatch PA may include contacting the first patch PA, which contains theprimary antibodies AB, with the plate PL and providing the primaryantibodies AB to the plate PL. The contacting of the first patch PA withthe plate PL may include contacting the first patch PA with the sampleSA fixated on the plate PL. The contacting of the first patch PA withthe plate PL may include contacting the first patch PA with a region ofthe plate PL on which the sample SA is fixated. The primary antibodiesAB may be changed in accordance with antigens desired to be detected.The primary antibodies AB may be antibodies AB that bind specificallywith antigens desired to be detected.

The providing of the primary antibodies AB by using the first patch PAmay include contacting the first patch PA with the plate PL andseparating the first patch PA from the plate PL. The contacting of thefirst patch PA with the plate PL and then separating the first patch PAfrom the plate PL may allow the primary antibodies AB to be selectivelytransferred. In other words, when antigens to which the primaryantibodies AB bind specifically are fixated on the plate PL, the primaryantibodies AB may be selectively transferred from the first patch PA.Here, primary antibodies AB that have moved to the plate PL but have notbound specifically (hereinafter, “residual primary antibodies”) may beabsorbed into the first patch PA and removed from the plate PL as thefirst patch PA is separated from the plate PL.

The absorption of the residual primary antibodies AB into the patch PAmay be performed by the residual primary antibodies AB being dissolvedin a water film WF, which has been formed due to contact between thefirst patch PA and the plate PL, and the water film WF being moved alongwith the first patch PA when the first patch PA is separated from theplate PL. Throughout the present application, a water film which isgenerated due to contact between a patch and a sample or the like mayrefer to a thin liquid membrane in the vicinity of a contact region. Inthis case, the membrane being formed does not necessarily have a flatshape. However, the water film is not limited thereto, and in thepresent application, a water film may be understood as referring to aregion in which movement of substance is possible due to contact betweena patch and a sample or the like or a region in which a substance hasmobility after a patch is connected to a sample or the like.

Since, as described above, the residual primary antibodies AB areremoved from the plate PL just by separation of the first patch PA, awashing process that is essentially required in performing conventionalELISA may be omitted. In other words, through a means of binding primaryantibodies AB using primary patch PA of the present application, aprocess of using a washing solution to remove primary antibodies AB thathave not bound specifically from the plate PL may be omitted.

FIGS. 45 to 47 illustrate providing primary antibodies AB1 using a patchPA in performing an immunoassay by indirect ELISA. According to FIGS. 45and 46 , the patch PA may contain the primary antibodies AB1 and providethe primary antibodies AB1 to a sample SA located on the plate PL or areaction region in which the sample SA is located. The providing of theprimary antibodies AB1 to the plate PL by the patch PA may be performedby contacting the patch PA with the plate PL so that, through a waterfilm WF formed in the vicinity of a contact region, the primaryantibodies AB1 are allowed to move to the plate PL or the reactionregion on the plate PL. The providing of the primary antibodies AB1 tothe plate PL may be due to specific binding between the primaryantibodies AB1 and the sample SA, and in particular, target proteins TPincluded in the sample SA.

Providing secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL using the patch PA mayinclude contacting a second patch PA which contains the secondaryantibodies AB with the plate PL and providing the secondary antibodiesAB to the plate PL. The contacting of the second patch PA into contactwith the plate PL may include contacting the second patch PA with thesample SA fixated on the plate PL. The contacting of the second patch PAwith the plate PL may include contacting the second patch PA with aregion of the plate PL on which the sample SA is fixated. The secondaryantibodies AB may be antibodies AB that bind specifically with theprimary antibodies AB. The secondary antibodies AB may be changed inaccordance with the primary antibodies AB used. In this case, thesecondary antibodies AB may be antibodies AB to which enzymes areattached. The enzymes attached to the antibodies may be horseradishperoxidase (HRP) or alkaline phosphatase (AP).

The providing of the secondary antibodies AB by using the second patchPA may include contacting the second patch PA with the plate PL andseparating the second patch PA from the plate PL. The contacting of thesecond patch PA with the plate PL and then separating the second patchPA from the plate PL may allow the secondary antibodies AB to beselectively transferred to the plate PL. In other words, when antigensto which the primary antibodies AB bind specifically are fixated on theplate PL and the primary antibodies AB bound to the fixated antigens arepresent, the secondary antibodies AB that bind specifically with theprimary antibodies AB may be selectively delivered to the plate PL.Here, secondary antibodies AB that have moved to the plate PL but havenot bound specifically (hereinafter, “residual secondary antibodies”)may be adsorbed into the second patch PA and removed from the plate PLas the second patch PA is separated from the plate PL. Accordingly, theprocess of using a washing solution to remove antibodies AB that havenot bound specifically from the plate PL may be omitted. The absorptionof the residual secondary antibodies AB into the second patch PA may beperformed by the residual secondary antibodies AB being dissolved in awater film WF, which has been formed due to contact between the secondpatch PA and the plate PL, and the water film WF being moved along withthe first patch PA when the second patch PA is separated from the platePL.

Like the above-described removal of the residual primary antibodies ABusing the primary patch PA, the residual secondary antibodies AB may beremoved from the plate PL just by separation of the second patch PA.Accordingly, a process of using a washing solution to remove secondaryantibodies AB that have not bound specifically from the plate PL, whichis the process that is essentially required in performing conventionalELISA, may be omitted.

FIGS. 48 to 50 illustrate providing secondary antibodies AB2 using apatch PA in performing immunoassay by indirect ELISA. According to FIGS.48 to 50 , the patch PA may contain the secondary antibodies AB3 andprovide the secondary antibodies AB4 to a sample SA located on the platePL or a reaction region in which the sample SA is located. The providingof the secondary antibodies AB4 to the plate PL by the patch PA may beperformed by contacting the patch PA contacting with the plate PL sothat, through a water film WF formed in the vicinity of a contactregion, the secondary antibodies AB2 are allowed to move to the plate PLor the reaction region on the plate PL. The providing of the secondaryantibodies AB2 to the plate PL may be due to specific binding betweenthe secondary antibodies AB2 and the sample SA, in particular, theprimary antibodies AB1 bound to the target proteins TP included in thesample SA.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude providing a substrate SU by using a patch PA. The providing ofthe substrate SU to the plate PL using the patch PA may includecontacting a third patch PA which contains the substrate SU into contactwith the plate PL and providing the substrate SU on the plate PL. Thesubstrate SU may be ABTS or TMB. The substrate SU may be catalyzed bythe enzymes and generate a product PD, and the product PD may serve as alabel of specific binding that is desired to be detected.

Also, the above-described providing of the substrate SU using the thirdpatch PA may include contacting the third patch PA with the plate PL andseparating the third patch PA from the plate PL. The contacting of thethird patch PA with the plate PL and then separating the third patch PAfrom the plate PL may allow control of duration for maintaining acontact between the third patch PA and the plate PL. In other words, thethird patch PA may be separated from the plate PL at an optimal timepoint.

The immunoassay may be performed by detecting the product PD that isgenerated by a chemical reaction of the substrate SU which is catalyzedby the enzymes. In this case, when the reaction is not terminated at anoptimal time point, an excessive amount of product PD may be produced,and it may be difficult to perform quantitative measurement of theproduct PD. In this case, according to an embodiment of the presentapplication, since the reaction may be stopped at an optimal time pointas a substrate SU patch PA is separated as described above, theabove-described measurement error problem due to an excessive reactionmay be solved. When, as described above, the substrate SU patch PA isremoved at an optimal time point, the specific binding may be detectedby measuring the product PD until the time point at which the substrateSU patch PA is removed.

FIGS. 51 to 53 illustrate providing a substrate SU using a patch PA inperforming immunoassay by indirect ELISA. According to FIGS. 51 to 53 ,the patch PA may contain the substrate SU and provide the substrate SUto a sample SA located on the plate PL or a reaction region in which thesample SA is located. The providing of the substrate SU to the plate PLby the patch PA may be performed by contacting the patch PA with theplate PL so that, through a water film WF formed in the vicinity of acontact region, the substrate SU is allowed to move to the plate PL orthe reaction region on the plate PL. The substrate SU may produce aproduct PD or be converted into the product PD due to a chemicalreaction catalyzed by enzymes attached to secondary antibodies ABlocated on the plate PL.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude absorbing a residue using a washing patch PA. The absorbing ofthe residue using the washing patch PA may include contacting thewashing patch PA with the plate PL to absorb the residue. The absorbingof the residue using the washing patch PA may include contacting thewashing patch PA into contact with the plate PL to absorb firstantibodies AB that have not bound specifically to at least a portion ofthe fixated sample SA. The absorbing of the residue using the washingpatch PA may include contacting the washing patch PA into contact withthe plate PL to absorb second antibodies AB that have not boundspecifically to at least some of the first antibodies AB.

The absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PA may be performedafter the providing of the primary antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing the first patch PA and before the providing of the secondaryantibodies AB to the plate PL by using the second patch PA.Alternatively, the absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PAmay be performed after the providing of the secondary antibodies AB tothe plate PL by using the second patch PA and before the providing ofthe substrate SU to the plate PL by using the patch PA.

The absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PA may substitutefor performing washing using a washing solution in a conventionalimmunoassay method. Since a conventional washing method is mostlyperformed by pouring a washing solution onto a plate PL to rinse theplate PL so as to remove a substance, which is located on the plate PLwithout binding specifically, an excessive amount of solution isconsumed in the conventional washing method. However, when the patch PAis used to absorb a residue from the plate PL as in the presentapplication, the amount of washing solution consumed is significantlyreduced in comparison to the conventional method, and thus economicfeasibility is improved.

FIGS. 54 to 56 illustrate performing washing in an embodiment ofimmunoassay according to the present application. According to FIGS. 54to 56 , a patch PA may absorb residual substance from a plate PL. Theresidual substance may be antibodies AB4 that have not boundspecifically to the target proteins TP. In this case, antibodies AB3 towhich the target proteins TP have bound specifically may not be absorbedinto the patch. The patch PA may be a washing patch PA that contains awashing solution.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includedeterging substances that interfere with detection of the specificbinding. Specifically, in performing the immunoassay method of thepresent application, a detergent patch PA for easily removingsubstances, which interfere with detection of the specific binding, fromthe plate PL may be used.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude providing a predetermined environment to the plate PL. Theproviding of the predetermined environment may be performed using abuffer patch PA. The providing of the predetermined environment mayinclude providing an environment by using a buffer patch PA thatcontains a buffer solution that facilitates each step of theimmunoassay. For example, a buffer patch PA that contains a peroxidebuffer may be used when detecting chemiluminescence.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includeinterrupting a reaction on the plate PL. The interrupting of thereaction may be performed using an interruption patch PA. Theinterrupting of the reaction may include interrupting a chemicalreaction, that is, a reaction of producing a product PD, of thesubstrate SU catalyzed by the enzymes. The interrupting of the reactionmay include terminating the reaction.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude detecting a specific reaction, and this may include detecting areaction of producing a product PD of the substrate SU. The detecting ofthe producing reaction may include detecting antigens to which theprimary antibodies AB have bound specifically. The detecting of theantigens to which the primary antibodies AB have bound specifically mayinclude detecting a product PD that is generated due to a reaction ofthe substrate SU catalyzed by enzymes attached to the secondaryantibodies AB bound to the primary antibodies AB. In this case, thedetecting of the product PD may be implemented by measuring colordevelopment due to the reaction, measuring luminescence due to thereaction, or measuring fluorescence due to the reaction.

The detecting of the producing reaction may be performed by contacting apatch PA that contains the substrate SU with the plate PL and detectinga chemical reaction of the substrate SU in real time. The detecting ofthe producing reaction may be performed by contacting patch PA thatcontains the substrate SU with the plate PL and detecting a result ofreaction after a predetermined amount of time. In this case, the patchPA which contains the substrate SU may be separated and a result ofreaction may be detected after a predetermined time point.

The detecting of the producing reaction may include contacting a patchPA that contains an interruption solution into contact with the plate PLand detecting a result of reaction while the patch PA which contains theinterruption solution is in contact with the plate PL, or detecting aresult of reaction after the patch PA which contains the interruptionsolution is separated from the plate PL.

In the present embodiment, the providing of the substrate SU or theproviding of the primary antibodies AB or the secondary antibodies ABmay not necessarily be performed using a patch PA. One of the providingof the substrate SU or the providing of the primary antibodies AB or thesecondary antibodies AB may be substituted by providing the substrateSU, the primary antibodies AB or the secondary antibodies AB which arein a liquid or solution state to the plate PL.

Embodiments of a patch PA that may be used in an immunoassay accordingto the present embodiment will be described below. Each patch PA will bedescribed as containing a few components, and each component may beunderstood as the above-described basic substance BS or additivesubstance AS. However, the components described below as being able tobe contained in each patch PA may not be all components contained ineach patch PA, and each patch PA may also contain other unspecifiedcomponents.

4.3.1.1 Primary Antibody Patch

Immunoassay of the present application may be performed using a patch PAthat contains primary antibodies. In other words, the patch PA maycontain the primary antibodies and provide the primary antibodies AB tothe plate PL.

The primary antibodies AB may be the additive substance AS contained inthe patch PA. In other words, the patch PA may contain a solutionincluding the primary antibodies AB. Also, in addition to the primaryantibodies AB or a solution of the primary antibodies AB, the patch PAwhich contains the primary antibodies AB may also contain another basicsubstance SB or additive substance AS that allows the primary antibodiesAB to easily bind to antigens to be detected.

The primary antibodies AB may be antibodies AB that bind specifically totarget proteins TP. In other words, the primary antibodies AB may beantibodies AB that bind specifically to target antigens desired to bedetected.

The patch PA which contains the primary antibodies AB may contain theprimary antibodies AB, which bind specifically to the antigens desiredto be detected, in a form of a solution. The primary antibodies AB maybe evenly distributed throughout the patch PA. The primary antibodies ABmay be absorbed into the patch PA from a separate medium and containedin the patch PA. The primary antibodies AB may be contained in the patchPA in a state in which the primary antibodies AB being attached to fineparticles.

When, as in the present embodiment, the primary antibodies AB arecontained in the patch PA and provided to the plate PL, primaryantibodies AB that have not bound specifically to a portion of asubstance fixated on the plate PL may be re-absorbed into the patch PA.Accordingly, a process of washing the primary antibodies AB may beomitted, the patch PA may be reusable in some cases, and prompt andefficient diagnosis may be implemented.

The patch PA according to an embodiment of the present application maybe an antibody AB-containing patch PA that includes antibodies AB thatreact specifically with target proteins TP and a mesh structural body NSwhich is provided in a mesh structure forming micro-cavities in whichthe antibodies AB are contained, and is configured to contact with areaction region in which the target proteins TP are located so as toprovide some of the contained antibodies AB to the reaction region. Inthis case, the antibodies AB that react specifically with the targetproteins TP may be primary antibodies AB which specifically bind totarget antigens.

4.3.1.2 Secondary Antibody Patch

Immunoassay of the present application may be performed using a patch PAthat contains secondary antibodies AB. In other words, the patch PA maycontain the secondary antibodies and provide the secondary antibodies ABto the plate PL.

The secondary antibodies AB may be the additive substance AS containedin the patch PA. The patch PA may contain a solution including thesecondary antibodies AB. Also, in addition to the secondary antibodiesAB or a solution of the secondary antibodies AB, the patch PA whichcontains the secondary antibodies AB may also contain a separate basicsubstance SB or additive substance AS that allows the secondaryantibodies AB to easily bind to target primary antibodies AB. Thesecondary antibodies AB may be antibodies AB that bind specifically toprimary antibodies AB. In this case, the specific binding between theprimary antibodies AB and the secondary antibodies AB may bespecies-specific binding instead of epitope-specific binding. Whensecondary antibodies AB which species-specifically bind to primaryantibodies AB are used, even when primary antibodies AB that aim todetect different proteins are used, the secondary antibodies AB havingidentification labels attached thereto may be commonly used as long asthe primary antibodies AB originate from the same species.

Enzymes may be attached to the secondary antibodies AB. The enzymesattached to the secondary antibodies AB may serve as identifiers fordetecting the specific binding. Specifically, the enzymes may beattached to the antibodies AB and serve as labels or reporters thatdetect antigens that bind specifically to the antibodies AB or antigensthat bind specifically to antibodies AB binding specifically to theantibodies AB (in the case of indirect technique). The enzymes may beused by being bound so that the antibodies AB bind tofragment-crystallizable (FC) regions of molecules.

Generally, AP or HRP are mainly used as the enzymes.

Even when the patch PA that contains the secondary antibodies AB is usedas described above, since secondary antibodies AB that have not boundspecifically to a portion of substance fixated on the plate PL may bere-absorbed into the patch PA, prompt and efficient immunoassay may beperformed.

The patch PA according to an embodiment of the present application maybe an antibody-containing patch PA that includes antibodies AB thatreact specifically with target proteins TP and a mesh structural body NSwhich is provided in a mesh structure forming micro-cavities in whichthe antibodies AB are contained, and is configured to contact with areaction region in which the target proteins TP are located so as toprovide some of the contained antibodies AB to the reaction region. Inthis case, the antibodies AB that react specifically with the targetproteins TP may be secondary antibodies AB which specifically bind totarget antigens.

4.3.1.3 Substrate Patch

Immunoassay of the present application may be performed using a patch PAthat contains a substrate SU. In other words, the patch PA may containthe substrate SU and provide the substrate SU to the plate PL.

The substrate SU may be the additive substance AS contained in the patchPA. The patch PA may contain a solution including the substrate SU.Also, the patch PA which contains the substrate SU may also contain thebasic substance BS or additive substance AS that assists a reaction ofproducing a product PD of the substrate SU.

Specifically, the enzymes attached to the secondary antibodies AB maycatalyze a chemical reaction of the substrate SU. The above-describedspecific binding may be detected from a product PD generated due to thereaction catalyzed by the enzymes. In other words, the substrate SU maybe catalyzed by the enzymes and generate a product PD, and the productPD may be detected to detect the specific binding.

The substrate SU may be ABTS, TMB, or the like. The substrate SU usedmay be changed in accordance with enzymes being used and detectionmeans. For example, when enzymes being used are AP, color developmentmay be detected by using para-Nitrophenylphosphate (pNPP) as thesubstrate SU. As another example, when enzymes being used are HRP, colordevelopment may be detected by using TMB or the like as the substrateSU.

When the substrate SU is provided to the plate PL by using theabove-described substrate SU patch PA, the amount of substrate SUsolution consumed is significantly reduced in comparison to theconventional ELISA method in which a substrate SU solution is pouredinto a reaction solution of a plate PL to detect a reaction. Therefore,diagnosis may be performed economically. Also, since the substrate SUpatch PA may be separated at an appropriate time point to prevent anexcessive reaction, a more precise detection result may be acquired.

4.3.1.4 Washing Patch

An immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may beperformed using a washing patch PA that absorbs a residue. In otherwords, in the immunoassay method according to the present embodiment,the residue may be absorbed by contacting the washing patch PA with theplate PL and then separating the washing patch PA from the plate PL. Theresidue may refer to a residue that has not been absorbed into eachpatch PA and not removed, when the above-described primary antibody ABpatch PA, secondary antibody AB patch PA, or substrate SU patch PA isbrought into contact with the plate PL and then separated therefrom.

The washing patch PA may contain a washing solution. The washingsolution may include a TBS or PBS with Tween 20 added to a portionthereof. The washing solution may be provided as a solution in which theresidue may be dissolved in accordance with a residue to be absorbed.The patch PA containing the washing solution may further contain thebasic substance BS or additive substance AS that assists in the washing.

By the patch PA containing the washing solution and being brought intocontact with the plate PL and then separated therefrom, impurities orresidue on the plate PL, for example, unbound antibodies AB or the like,may be absorbed into the patch PA and removed. The residue may includefirst antibodies AB that have not bound specifically to the antigens tobe detected included in the sample SA or second antibodies AB that havenot bound specifically to the first antibodies AB.

In the absorption of the residue into the washing patch PA, the washingpatch PA may come into contact with the plate PL, that is, the plate PLregion on which the sample SA is located, so that the water film WF maybe formed, and the residue may be dissolved in the water film WF. Theresidue dissolved in the water film WF may be absorbed into the washingpatch PA by the water film WF being moved along with the washing patchPA when the washing patch PA is separated from the plate PL.

When a residue on the plate PL is removed by using the above-describedwashing patch PA, the amount of washing solution consumed issignificantly reduced in comparison to the conventional ELISA method.Therefore, diagnosis may be performed economically. Also, since thesubstrate SU patch PA may be separated at an appropriate time point toprevent an excessive reaction, a more precise detection result may beacquired.

4.3.1.5 Detergent Patch

An immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may beperformed using a detergent patch PA that performs deterging. In otherwords, the detergent patch PA may contain a detergent solution andprovide the detergent solution to the patch PA.

Specifically, in performing an immunoassay method of the presentapplication, the detergent patch PA for simply removing substances thatinterfere with detection of the specific binding from the plate PL maybe used. Specifically, the detergent patch PA may contain a detergentsubstance that allows substances interfering with detection of thespecific binding, such as first antibodies AB that have not boundspecifically to antigens to be detected included in the sample SA orsecond antibodies AB that have not bound specifically to the firstantibodies AB, to be easily removed, and may be used in removing thesubstances.

In this case, the detergent patch PA may contain at least some ofdetergent substances for easily removing the interfering substances. Thedetergent substance may be at least one of Tween 20, Triton X-100, andCHAPS.

4.3.1.6 Buffer Patch

An immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may beperformed using a buffer patch PA. In other words, the buffer patch PAmay contain a buffer solution and provide a predetermined environment tothe plate PL. The buffer patch PA may contain a buffer solution thatfacilitates each step of the immunoassay. As an example of the buffersolution, a peroxide buffer solution may be used when detectingchemiluminescence. 4.3.1.7 Interruption Patch

An immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may beperformed using a reaction interruption patch PA. In other words, thereaction interruption patch PA may contain an interruption solution,which interrupts a reaction of the substrate SU catalyzed by theenzymes, and provide the interruption solution to the plate PL.

The patch PA may contain an interruption solution for interrupting areaction of the substrate SU. That is, the reaction interruption patchPA may be manufactured, and the reaction interruption patch PA may beused to provide the interruption solution to the plate PL and interruptthe reaction of the substrate SU at an appropriate time point.

The interruption solution may contain at least a portion of aninterruption substance for interrupting a reaction of the substrate SU.The interruption substance may be a sulfuric acid.

In performing the immunoassay method according to the presentembodiment, any one chosen from using the interruption patch PA andseparating the above-described substrate SU patch PA from the plate PLmay be performed. For example, to interrupt a reaction of the substrateSU, any one chosen from contacting the stop patch PA into contact withthe plate PL, contacting the stop patch PA into contact with thesubstrate SU patch PA which is in contact with the plate PL (forexample, contacting the stop patch PA into contact with an upper surfaceof the substrate SU patch in contact with the plate PL) and separatingthe substrate SU patch from the plate PL may be performed.

4.3.1.8 AB Pair Patch

FIG. 63 illustrates a patch PA that contains a pair of antibodies AB asan embodiment of a patch PA according to the present application.According to FIG. 63 , the patch PA may contain pairs of antibodies ABeach formed by binding between a primary antibody AB and a secondaryantibody AB or antibody AB complexes.

In the immunoassay method according to the present embodiment, primaryantibodies AB6 and secondary antibodies AB7 may be provided to the platePL together. In other words, the patch PA may simultaneously contain andprovide the primary antibodies AB6 and the secondary antibodies AB7 (seeFIG. 64 ). Due to the primary antibodies AB6 and the secondaryantibodies AB7 being contained in a single patch PA and being providedto the plate PL together, a procedure for performing diagnosis maybecome more prompt and convenient.

The patch PA that contains the primary antibodies AB and the secondaryantibodies AB may be manufactured to include the primary antibodies ABand the secondary antibodies AB. Alternatively, the patch PA thatcontains the primary antibodies AB and the secondary antibodies AB maybe manufactured by contacting a patch PA that contains the primaryantibodies AB with a patch PA that contains the secondary antibodies AB.

In this case, in the immunoassay method according to the presentembodiment, providing primary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using afirst patch PA and providing secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing a second patch may be substituted by providing the primaryantibodies AB and the secondary antibodies AB to the plate by using thefirst patch PA.

In other words, the immunoassay method according to an embodiment of thepresent application may be implemented by including fixating a sample SAon a plate PL and providing the primary antibodies AB and the secondaryantibodies AB to the plate PL by using a patch PA. In this case, thesecondary antibodies AB may bind specifically to the primary antibodiesAB. The secondary antibodies AB and the primary antibodies AB may becontained in the patch PA and provided to the plate PL in a state ofbeing bound to each other.

According to the above embodiment, a substance absorbed by theabove-described washing patch PA may be a complex of the primaryantibodies AB and the secondary antibodies AB that have not bound to theproteins or antigens to be detected. Also, according to the aboveembodiment, a substance of which removal is facilitated by the detergentpatch PA may be a complex of the primary antibodies AB and the secondaryantibodies AB that have not bound to the proteins or antigens to bedetected. Also, according to the above embodiment, a substance removedfrom the plate PL when the patch PA is separated from the plate PL maybe a complex of the primary antibodies AB and the secondary antibodiesAB that have not bound to the proteins or antigens to be detected.

FIGS. 65 and 66 illustrate an example of manufacturing a patch PA thatcontains a pair of antibodies as an embodiment of a patch PA accordingto the present application. According to FIGS. 65 and 66 , a patch PAthat contains pairs of antibodies AB may be acquired by contacting apatch PA that contains primary antibodies AB6 and a patch PA thatcontains secondary antibodies AB7 and then separating the two. Theacquisition of the patch PA that contains the pairs of antibodies AB maybe performed by contacting the patch PA that contains the primaryantibodies AB6 and the patch PA that contains the secondary antibodiesAB7 so that the contained substances may be exchanged, causing diffusionto occur so that the primary antibodies AB6 and the secondary antibodiesAB7 are located in each patch PA, and making the primary antibodies AB6and the secondary antibodies AB7 bind to each other.

The patch PA according to an embodiment of the present application maybe an antibody AB-containing patch PA that includes antibodies AB thatreact specifically with target proteins TP and a mesh structural body NSwhich contains the antibodies AB and comes into contact with a reactionregion in which the target proteins TP are located so as to provide someof the contained antibodies AB to the reaction region. In this case, thetarget proteins TP may be antigens, the antibodies AB may be pairs ofantibodies AB formed by binding between primary antibodies AB whichspecifically bind to the antigens and secondary antibodies AB whichspecifically bind o the primary antibodies AB, and the pairs ofantibodies AB may react specifically with the antigens.

4.3.1.9 Absorbing and Containing Patch

A patch PA according to the present application may contain antibodiesAB, a substrate SU, a washing solution, and other substances requiredfor immunoassay such as a basic substance BS and an additive substanceAS, as described above. The above-described substances, in particular,the additive substance AS, may be contained in the patch PA from thestep of manufacturing the patch PA or may be kept in a different mediumand then absorbed into the patch PA and contained therein when diagnosisis performed. In other words, the patch PA may absorb substances such asantibodies AB and a substrate SU from a separate medium and contain thesubstances therein.

In this case, a different medium may be a plate PL or paper. Being keptin the different medium may refer to being applied on a surface of aplate PL, being applied on a surface of the plate PL and dried, beingabsorbed into paper, or being absorbed into the paper and dried.

This may be particularly usefully applied to a patch PA that containsantibodies AB. When the antibodies AB are kept in a different medium asdescribed above, the ability to contain antibodies AB is significantlyimproved, and quality of a predetermined level or higher may beguaranteed for antibodies AB used when performing diagnosis.

FIGS. 74 to 76 illustrate an example of a patch PA that absorbs asubstance from a medium and contains the substance therein as anembodiment of a patch PA according to the present application. Accordingto FIGS. 74 to 76 , the patch PA according to the present applicationmay absorb antibodies AB applied on a plate PL and contain theantibodies AB therein. The absorption of the antibodies AB applied onthe plate PL may be performed by the antibodies AB being captured in awater film WF, which is formed due to contact between the patch PA andthe plate PL, and the patch PA being separated from the plate PL suchthat the water film WF is moved along with the patch PA.

As an embodiment of a patch PA according to the present application,FIG. 77 illustrates a case in which a patch PA, which absorbs antibodiesAB from a separate medium and contains the antibodies AB therein,provides the antibodies AB to the plate PL. According to FIG. 77 , apatch PA according to the present application may absorb antibodies ABfrom a plate PL3 on which the antibodies AB are applied and provide theabsorbed antibodies AB to a plate PL4 on which a sample SA is applied.This may be performed by bringing a lower surface of the patch PA intocontact with the plate PL4, on which the sample SA is applied, in astate in which the plate PL3, on which the antibodies AB are applied, isbrought into contact with an upper surface of the patch PA.

4.3.1.10 Transfer Patch

A patch PA according to the present application may provide a substance(that is, a substance to be transferred) contained in a medium (that is,medium) to a plate or another external region. For example, the patch PAmay provide substances such as antibodies AB and a substrate SU kept ina medium to a separately-provided plate.

The patch may contain a liquid substance which may dissolve a substanceto be transferred, which is contained in the medium. For example, when asubstance to be transferred is water-soluble, the patch may containwater or an aqueous solution. In this case, the patch may provide thewater or aqueous solution to the medium. As the aqueous solution or thelike is provided, substances contained in the medium may be provided tothe plate. It may be understood that, by such a mechanism, a moistenvironment is provided by the patch to the medium and the plate.

In the present embodiment, a surface of the patch PA may be brought intocontact with an external medium in which the substances are contained. Asurface of the medium opposite the surface coming into contact with thepatch may be brought into contact with a plate or another externalregion. In this case, the patch may transfer a substance contained inthe medium to the plate.

In the present embodiment, the medium may be a substance having anability to absorb or an ability to transmit. The medium may be paper.The medium may be a substance-containing medium in a mesh form.

As an embodiment of the present application, an immunoassay method usingthe transfer patch may be provided. Specifically, there may be providedan immunoassay method for performing diagnosis by detecting a targetprotein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch which includes amesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configured to containa liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassay methodincluding contacting a medium, which contains antibodies that reactsspecifically with the target protein, into contact with the patch, andcontacting the patch into contact with a reaction region in which thetarget protein is placed, wherein, when the medium is brought intocontact with the patch, at least a portion of the antibodies containedin the medium is absorbed into the patch. In this case, when the patchis brought into contact with the reaction region, at least a portion ofthe antibodies absorbed into the patch may be movable to the reactionregion.

In the above embodiment, the bringing of the medium into contact withthe patch may include contacting a surface of the medium with the patch,and the contacting of the patch with the reaction region may includecontacting a surface of the patch, which is not in contact with themedium, into contact with the reaction region.

According to an embodiment of the present application, an antibodyproviding kit using the transfer patch may be provided. Specifically,there may be provided an antibody providing kit that includes a mediumwhich contains antibodies that reacts specifically with a targetprotein, and antibodies delivery patch which includes a mesh structuralbody forming micro-cavities and is configured to come into contact withthe medium to absorb a portion of the antibodies contained in the mediumand come into contact with a reaction region in which the target proteinis placed to provide at least a portion of the absorbed antibodies tothe reaction region.

4.3.2 Reference Embodiment 2—Direct ELISA

FIG. 57 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing direct ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

An immunoassay method using direct ELISA according to an embodiment ofthe present application may include placing a sample SA in a reactionregion (S200), providing antibodies AB to the reaction region (S300),providing a substrate SU to the reaction region (S400), and detecting aspecific reaction between the antibodies AB and target proteins TP(S500).

The immunoassay according to the present embodiment may use a plate PLand a patch PA and be performed by direct ELISA.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includefixating a sample SA on the plate PL and providing antibodies AB to theplate PL by using the patch PA.

The fixating of the sample SA on the plate PL may include drying thesample SA to be diagnosed on the plate PL and fixating the sample SA onthe plate PL. The fixating of the sample SA to be diagnosed on the platePL may include fixating a bodily fluid sample SA or a section of tissueto be diagnosed on the plate PL.

The providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PAmay include contacting the patch PA which contains the antibodies ABwith the plate PL to provide the antibodies AB to the plate PL. Thecontacting of the patch PA into contact with the plate PL and detailsrelated to antigens and antibodies AB have been described above inrelation to indirect ELISA. Since the present embodiment is performed bydirect ELISA, enzymes may be attached to the antibodies AB. The enzymesattached to the antibodies AB may be a HRP or AP.

The providing of the antibodies AB by using the patch PA may includeproviding the patch PA into contact with the plate PL and separating thepatch PA from the plate PL. The providing of the patch PA into contactwith the plate PL and then separating the patch PA from the plate PL mayallow the antibodies AB to be selectively provided. In other words, whenantigens to which the antibodies bind specifically are fixated on theplate PL, the antibodies AB may be selectively provided from the patchPA to the plate PL. Here, antibodies AB that have moved to the plate PLbut have not bound specifically (hereinafter, “residual antibodies”) maybe absorbed into the patch PA and removed from the plate PL as the patchPA is separated from the plate PL. The absorption of the residualantibodies AB into the patch PA may be performed by the residualantibodies AB being dissolved in a water film WF, which is formed bycontact between the patch PA and the plate PL, and the water film WFbeing moved along with the patch PA when the patch PA is separated fromthe plate PL.

Since, as described above, the residual antibodies AB may be removedfrom the plate PL just by separation of the patch PA, a washing processfor residual substance (e.g., the residual antibodies AB) which isessentially required in performing conventional ELISA may be omitted. Ina conventionally-performed washing process for residual substance, alarge amount of washing solution has to be poured onto a plate PL torinse the plate PL to remove residual substance, which has notparticipated in specific binding, from the plate PL. However, since thepatch PA of the present application may capture and separate theresidual substance just by being brought into contact with the plate PLand then separated therefrom, the washing process is unnecessary.Consequently, reagents may be more efficiently used, and ELISA may besimply performed.

FIGS. 58 to 60 illustrate a part of an immunoassay method using directELISA in an embodiment of immunoassay according to the presentapplication. According to FIGS. 58 to 60 , a patch PA may provideantibodies AB5 to a reaction region. Identification labels such asenzymes may have been attached to the antibodies AB5. The providing ofthe antibodies AB5 to the plate PL by the patch PA may be performed bythe patch PA coming into contact with the plate PL so that theantibodies AB5 are movable to the plate PL or the reaction region on theplate PL through a water film WF formed in the vicinity of a contactregion. The providing of the antibodies AB5 to the plate PL may be dueto specific binding between the antibodies AB5 and the sample SA, inparticular, target proteins TP included in the sample SA.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude providing a substrate SU to the plate PL by using the patch PA.The providing of the substrate SU by using the patch PA may includecontacting the patch PA which contains the substrate SU with the platePL to provide the substrate SU to the plate PL. The substrate SU may beABTS or TMB. The substrate SU may be catalyzed by the enzymes andgenerate a product PD, and the product PD may serve as a label ofspecific binding that is desired to be detected.

Also, the providing of the substrate SU to the plate PL by using thepatch PA which contains the substrate SU may include contacting thepatch PA which contains the substrate SU into contact with the plate PLand separating the patch PA which contains the substrate SU from theplate PL. The contacting of the patch PA which contains the substrate SUinto contact with the plate PL and then separating the patch PA whichcontains the substrate SU from the plate PL may allow control ofduration for maintain a contact between the patch PA which contains thesubstrate SU and the plate PL are in contact. In other words, the patchPA which contains the substrate SU may be separated from the plate PL atan optimal time point.

The immunoassay may be performed by a means of detecting the product PDthat is generated by a chemical reaction of the substrate SU which iscatalyzed by the enzymes. In this case, when the reaction is not stoppedat an optimal time point, an excessive amount of product PD may beproduced, and it may be difficult to perform quantitative measurement ofthe product PD. According to the immunoassay method using the patch PAof the present application, since the reaction may be terminated at anoptimal time point as the patch PA which contains the substrate SU isseparated from the plate PL as described above, the above-describedmeasurement error problem due to an excessive reaction may be solved.When, as described above, the patch PA which contains the substrate SUis removed from the plate PL at an optimal time point, the specificbinding may be quantitatively detected by measuring the product PD untilthe optimal time point.

FIGS. 61 and 62 illustrate providing a substrate SU using a patch PA inperforming immunoassay by direct ELISA. According to FIGS. 61 and 62 ,the patch PA may contain the substrate SU and provide the substrate SUto a sample SA located on the plate PL or a reaction region in which thesample SA is located. The providing of the substrate SU to the plate PLby the patch PA may be performed by the patch PA coming into contactwith the plate PL so that, through a water film WF formed in thevicinity of a contact region, the substrate SU is allowed to move to theplate PL or the reaction region on the plate PL. The substrate SU mayproduce a product PD or be converted into the product PD due to achemical reaction catalyzed by enzymes attached to antibodies AB locatedon the plate PL.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude absorbing a residue using a washing patch PA. The absorbing ofthe residue using the washing patch PA may include contacting thewashing patch PA into contact with the plate PL to absorb the residue.The absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PA may includecontacting the absorbing patch PA into contact with the plate PL toabsorb antibodies AB that have not bound specifically to at least aportion of the fixated sample SA. In other words, in detecting targetspecific binding, the washing patch PA may absorb residual substancethat has not participated in the specific binding.

The absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PA may be performedafter the providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using thepatch PA and before the providing of the substrate SU to the plate PL byusing the patch PA.

The absorbing of the residue using the washing patch PA may substitutefor performing washing using a washing solution in a conventionalimmunoassay process. The conventional washing process is performed by aperson directly using a large amount of washing solution to removeresidual substance, and thus has problems in that a solution is wasted,manpower is required, and specific binding that has been formed may alsobe affected. However, when washing is performed using the patch PA as inthe present application, since washing is not performed by flowingsolution, there are advantages in that specific binding that has beenformed is less affected, and consumption of a washing solution issignificantly reduced.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includedeterging substances that interfere with detection of the specificbinding.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude providing a predetermined environment to the plate PL.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includeinterrupting a reaction on the plate PL.

Details of the deterging, the providing of the environment, and theinterrupting of the reaction may be similar to those described abovewith reference to indirect ELISA.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude detecting antigens that have bound specifically to the providedantibodies AB. The detecting of the antigens that have boundspecifically to the antibodies AB may include detecting a product PDgenerated due to a reaction between the substrate SU and enzymes boundto the antibodies AB. In this case, the detecting of the product PD maybe implemented by measuring color development due to the reaction,measuring luminescence due to the reaction, or measuring fluorescencedue to the reaction.

In addition, unless particularly mentioned otherwise, theabove-described patches PA, methods of performing diagnosis, and thelike used in indirect ELISA may also be applied similarly to performingimmunoassay by direct ELISA.

In the present embodiment, the providing of the substrate SU or theproviding of the primary antibodies AB or the secondary antibodies ABmay not necessarily be performed using a patch PA. One of the providingof the substrate SU or the providing of the primary antibodies AB or thesecondary antibodies AB may be substituted with providing the substrateSU, the primary antibodies AB or the secondary antibodies AB which arein a liquid or solution state to the plate PL.

4.3.3 Reference Embodiment 3—Sandwich ELISA

FIG. 67 illustrates a flowchart for describing an immunoassay methodusing sandwich ELISA as an example of an immunoassay method according tothe present application.

The immunoassay method using sandwich ELISA according to an embodimentof the present application may include placing bottom antibodies BAB ina reaction region (S100), placing a sample SA in the reaction region(S200), providing antibodies AB to the reaction region (S300), providinga substrate SU to the reaction region (S400), and detecting a specificreaction between the antibodies AB and target proteins TP (S500).

The immunoassay according to the present embodiment may use a plate PLand a patch PA and be performed by sandwich ELISA.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includefixating antibodies AB on the plate PL, applying a sample SA on theplate PL, and providing the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using thepatch PA.

The fixating of the antibodies AB on the plate PL may include fixatingthe antibodies AB which are dried. The fixating of the antibodies AB onthe plate PL may be performed using a coating buffer solution. Thefixating of the antibodies AB on the plate PL may include forming a thinfilm on the plate PL. The thin film may be pre-manufactured and fixatedby being attached to the plate PL. The fixating of the antibodies AB mayinclude fixating the antibodies AB so that FC regions of the antibodiesAB are in contact with the plate PL. The fixated antibodies AB may beantibodies AB that bind specifically to target antigens to be detected.

The applying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include applying aliquid-phase bodily fluid. For example, the applying of the sample SA onthe plate PL may include applying any one of the blood, urine, andsuspensions of cells.

FIGS. 68 and 69 illustrate a part of an immunoassay method usingsandwich ELISA according to an embodiment of the present application.According to FIGS. 68 and 69 , immunoassay by sandwich ELISA may includefixating antibodies (that is, bottom antibodies BAB) that bindspecifically to target proteins TP on a plate PL, and applying a sampleSA. The fixating of the bottom antibodies BAB may include fixating thebottom antibodies BAB so that FC regions of the antibodies AB are incontact with the plate PL. By applying the sample SA on the plate PL,the target proteins TP included in the sample SA may bind to the bottomantibodies BAB. In each drawing of the present application, the shapesthat represent target proteins or the like do not imply certainproperties of the target proteins or the like.

The providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PAmay be performed using the direct technique or the indirect technique.In other words, the providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing the patch PA may include providing antibodies AB that bindspecifically to antigens desired to be detected and have enzymesattached thereto. The providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing the patch PA may include providing primary antibodies AB to theplate PL by using the patch PA and providing secondary antibodies AB tothe plate PL by using the patch PA.

Therefore, in the providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL of thepresent embodiment, the providing of the primary antibodies AB to theplate PL by using the first patch PA and the providing of the secondaryantibodies AB to the plate PL by using the second patch PA which havebeen described above with reference to indirect ELISA or the providingof the antibodies AB by using the patch PA which has been describedabove with reference to direct ELISA may be applied.

FIGS. 70 and 71 illustrate a part of an immunoassay method usingsandwich ELISA according to an embodiment of the present application.According to FIGS. 70 and 71 , immunoassay by sandwich ELISA may includeproviding antibodies AB8 to the plate PL by using a patch PA whichcontains the antibodies AB8 to which identification labels such asenzymes are attached. The providing of the antibodies AB8 to the platePL may be performed by contacting the patch PA with the plate PL andthen separating the patch PA from the plate PL. In this case, bycontacting the patch PA with the plate PL and then separating the patchPA from the plate PL, non-target proteins (NTP) included in the sampleSA may be absorbed into the patch PA. The absorption of the non-targetproteins NTP into the patch PA may be performed by contacting the patchPA with the plate PL or the sample SA so that a water film WF is formedin the vicinity of a contact region, and causing the non-target proteinsNTP to be captured in the water film WF.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includeat least some among providing a substrate SU to the plate PL by usingthe patch PA, absorbing a residue using a washing patch PA, detergingsubstances that interfere with detection of the specific binding,providing a predetermined environment to the plate PL, interrupting areaction on the plate PL, and detecting antigens that have boundspecifically to the provided antibodies AB. The details of each step maybe similar to those described above with reference to indirect ELISA.

FIGS. 72 and 73 illustrate a part of an immunoassay method usingsandwich ELISA according to an embodiment of the present application.According to FIGS. 72 and 73 , immunoassay by sandwich ELISA may includeproviding a substrate SU to the plate PL by using a substrate SU patchPA. The providing of the substrate SU may be performed by contacting thepatch PA which contains the substrate SU with the plate PL so that,through a water film WF formed in the vicinity of a contact region, thesubstrate SU is allowed to move to the plate PL. The substrate SU mayproduce a product PD or be converted into the product PD through achemical reaction catalyzed by enzymes attached to antibodies AB locatedon the plate PL.

4.3.4 Multi-Target

Immunoassay of the present application may be performed tosimultaneously detect a plurality of targets. In other words, aplurality of targets that cause a single disease may be simultaneouslydetected, or a plurality of targets that cause multiple diseases may besimultaneously detected. For example, in diagnosis of leukemia, aplurality of antigens that are involved in leukemia may besimultaneously detected. Also, for example, target proteins TP thatcause multiple different diseases such as leukemia and Zika virus may besimultaneously detected.

Here, the simultaneous detection may refer to detection of a pluralityof targets from a single plate PL, as well as detection of each targetin partially overlapping time sections.

The simultaneous detection of the plurality of targets may bedifferently performed in accordance with means of performing theabove-described immunoassay method. Methods of detecting a plurality oftargets in accordance with means of performing the above-describedimmunoassay method will be described below. Description of content whichhas been described above with reference to the above embodiments will beomitted.

4.3.4.1 Indirect+Multi-Target

An immunoassay method according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may include placing a sample SA in a reaction region (S200)and providing antibodies AB to the reaction region (S300). In this case,multiple target proteins TP may be present, the multiple target proteinsTP may include first target proteins TP and second target proteins TP,and the patch PA may contain first antibodies AB that react specificallywith the first target proteins TP and first antibodies AB that reactspecifically with the second target proteins TP.

Alternatively, type of target proteins TP may be one or more, patch PAthat contain antibodies AB may be one or more, the target proteins TPmay include first target proteins TP and second target proteins TP, andthe plurality of patches PA may include a first patch PA that containsfirst antibodies AB that react specifically with the first targetproteins TP and a second patch PA that contains second antibodies ABthat react specifically with the second target proteins TP.

According to an embodiment of the present application, an immunoassaymethod for detecting a plurality of targets using indirect ELISA asdescribed above may include fixating a sample SA on the plate PL,providing multiple types of primary antibodies AB to the plate PL, andproviding secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using a patch PA.

The fixating of the sample SA on the plate PL may be similar to that inthe above-described embodiment of the immunoassay method using indirectELISA. However, when immunoassay for detecting a plurality of targets isperformed by indirect ELISA as in the present embodiment, the sample SAmay be distributed throughout a single region on the plate PL ordistributed throughout a plurality of divided regions.

The providing of the multiple types of primary antibodies AB to theplate PL may include providing multiple types of primary antibodies AB,which specifically bind to multiple different types of antigens, to theplate PL.

The providing of the multiple types of primary antibodies AB to theplate PL may include providing multiple types of primary antibodies ABcontained in a single patch PA to the plate PL. The providing of themultiple types of primary antibodies AB to the plate PL may includeproviding multiple types of primary antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing a plurality of patches PA. The providing of the multiple types ofprimary antibodies AB may include using a first patch PA that containsfirst primary antibodies AB and a second patch PA that contains secondprimary antibodies AB to provide the first primary antibodies AB and thesecond primary antibodies AB to the plate PL. In other words, theproviding of the multiple types of primary antibodies AB may includeusing the plurality of patches PA that contain the multiple types ofprimary antibodies AB to provide the primary antibodies AB.

The providing of the primary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using apatch PA may include providing the primary antibodies AB to a pluralityof divided regions of the plate PL with a single patch PA. The pluralityof regions may include a first region and a second region, and theproviding of the primary antibodies AB to the plurality of regions mayinclude providing the first primary antibodies AB to the first regionand providing the second primary antibodies AB to the second region. Inother words, the providing of the primary antibodies AB to the pluralityof regions may include providing different primary antibodies AB to eachof the plurality of regions by the plurality of patches PA.

The providing of the multiple types of primary antibodies AB to theplate PL by using the plurality of patches PA may include simultaneouslycontacting the plurality of patches PA with the plate PL for at least acertain amount of time so that the primary antibodies AB contained ineach of the patches PA are provided to the plate PL. The providing ofthe multiple types of primary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using theplurality of patches PA may include sequentially bringing the pluralityof patches PA into contact with the plate PL such that regions of theplate PL that sequentially come into contact with the plurality ofpatches PA at least partially overlap, and the primary antibodies ABcontained in each of the patches PA are provided to the plate PL.

The providing of the secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by usingthe patch PA may include providing first secondary antibodies AB, whichspecifically bind specifically to a first type of primary antibodies AB,and second secondary antibodies AB, which specifically bind specificallyto a second type of primary antibodies AB, to the plate PL by using apatch PA. For example, the providing of the secondary antibodies AB tothe plate PL by using the patch PA may include providing multiple typesof secondary antibodies AB, which have properties of bindingspecifically to multiple different types of primary antibodies AB, tothe plate PL. The providing of the secondary antibodies AB to the platePL by using the patch PA may include providing a single type ofsecondary antibodies AB, which have a property of commonly bindingspecifically to multiple types of primary antibodies AB, to the platePL. In other words, the secondary antibodies AB may be multiple types ofsecondary antibodies AB which have a property of binding specifically toeach of multiple types of primary antibodies AB used in diagnosis, ormay be a single type of secondary antibodies AB which have a property ofcommonly binding species-specifically to multiple types of primaryantibodies AB used in the diagnosis.

The providing of the secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by usingthe patch PA may include providing multiple types of secondaryantibodies AB or a single type of secondary antibodies AB, which arecontained in a single patch PA, to the plate PL. The providing of thesecondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PA mayinclude providing multiple types of secondary antibodies AB or a singletype of secondary antibodies AB, which are contained in a plurality ofpatches PA, to the plate PL.

The providing of the secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by usingthe patch PA may include providing the secondary antibodies AB to aplurality of divided regions of the plate PL with a single patch PA. Theproviding of the secondary antibodies AB to the plurality of regions mayinclude providing multiple types of secondary antibodies AB to each ofthe plurality of regions.

The providing of the secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using aplurality of patches PA may include simultaneously contacting theplurality of patches PA with the plate PL for at least a predeterminedamount of time so that the secondary antibodies AB contained in each ofthe patches PA are provided to the plate PL. The providing of thesecondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the plurality ofpatches PA may include sequentially bringing the plurality of patches PAinto contact with the plate PL such that regions of the plate PL thatsequentially come into contact with the plurality of patches PA at leastpartially overlap, and the secondary antibodies AB contained in each ofthe patches PA are provided to the plate PL.

The method of performing immunoassay for detecting a plurality oftargets according to the present embodiment may include providing asubstrate SU by using a patch PA. The details of the providing of thesubstrate SU by using the patch PA are the same as those described abovewith reference to the embodiment of the immunoassay method usingindirect ELISA. However, more than one types of substrates SU may beused. In other words, a single type of substrate SU may be used when asingle type of secondary antibodies AB are used, and a single type ofsubstrate SU or multiple types of substrate SU may be used when multipletypes of secondary antibodies AB are used.

The method of performing immunoassay for detecting a plurality oftargets according to the present embodiment may include determining thepresence of each of a plurality of targets from the plate PL. Thedetails are the same as those described above with reference to theembodiment of the immunoassay method using indirect ELISA.

A few embodiments of performing immunoassay for detecting a plurality oftargets according to the present embodiment will be described below.

As a specific example of a method of performing immunoassay fordetecting a plurality of targets, when different primary antibodies ABare provided to each region of the plate PL by the plurality of patchesPA, the providing of the secondary antibodies AB may includesimultaneously providing the secondary antibodies AB to each of theregions by a single patch PA. When multiple types of primary antibodiesAB are provided to a plurality of divided regions of the plate PL, asingle type of secondary antibodies AB may be provided to the pluralityof regions. In this case, the providing of the secondary antibodies ABto the plurality of regions may be performed using a single patch PA ora plurality of small patches PA that correspond to the respectiveregions. Although performance of diagnosis is simplified when the singlepatch PA is used, when the plurality of small patches PA are used, sincethere is no risk of undesired transferring of substance through thepatches PA and it is sufficient that detection be performed for eachregion, more accurate detection may be possible.

As another specific example, when regions of a single plate PL thatsequentially come into contact with the plurality of patches PA at leastpartially overlap such that multiple types of primary antibodies ABcontained in the patches PA are provided to the plate PL, the providingof the secondary antibodies AB may include providing multiple types ofsecondary antibodies AB, which have properties of binding specificallyto the multiple types of primary antibodies AB, to the plate PL througha single patch PA. In this case, the multiple types of secondaryantibodies AB having the properties of binding specifically to themultiple types of primary antibodies AB may be detected in accordancewith different identification labels.

Alternatively, the providing of the secondary antibodies AB may includeproviding a single type of secondary antibodies AB, which haveproperties of binding specifically to the multiple types of primaryantibodies AB, to the plate PL through a single patch PA. Such a methodmay be used in determining a presence of a disease when an antigen withwhich multiple types of primary antibodies AB react specifically is acause of the corresponding disease.

Alternatively, the secondary antibodies AB may include first secondaryantibodies AB, which have a property of binding specifically to a firsttype of primary antibodies AB, and second secondary antibodies AB, whichhave a property of binding specifically to a second type of primaryantibodies AB, and the providing of the secondary antibodies AB mayinclude providing the first secondary antibodies AB to a first regionlocated on the plate PL and providing the second secondary antibodies ABto a second region located on the plate PL. For example, the providingof the secondary antibodies AB may include providing multiple types ofsecondary antibodies AB, which have properties of respectively bindingspecifically to the multiple types of primary antibodies AB, to aplurality of divided regions located on the plate PL. In this case,targets to be detected may be changed in accordance with the dividedregions, and result acquisition may be facilitated.

4.3.4.2 Direct+Multi-Target

According to an embodiment of the present application, an immunoassaymethod for detecting a plurality of targets using direct ELISA describedabove may include fixating a sample SA on the plate PL and providingmultiple types of antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PA.

The fixating of the sample SA on the plate PL may be similar to that inthe above-described method of performing immunoassay by direct ELISA.However, when immunoassay for detecting a plurality of targets isperformed by direct ELISA as in the present embodiment, the sample SAmay be distributed throughout a single region on the plate PL ordistributed throughout a plurality of divided regions.

When multiple types of antibodies AB are provided to the plate PL byusing the patch PA, the multiple types of antibodies AB may includefirst antibodies AB, which have a property of binding specifically tofirst antigens, and second antibodies AB, which have a property ofbinding specifically to second antigens. First enzymes attached to thefirst antibodies AB and second enzymes attached to the second antibodiesAB may be different types of enzymes.

The providing of the multiple types of antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing the patch PA may include providing multiple types of antibodies ABto the plate PL by using the patch PA. The providing of the multipletypes of antibodies AB may include providing first antibodies AB whichhave a property of binding specifically to first antigens and secondantibodies AB which have a property of binding specifically to secondantigens. Also, the providing of the multiple types of antibodies AB mayinclude providing multiple types of antibodies AB which have propertiesof respectively binding specifically to a plurality of differentantigens (that is, a plurality of targets to be detected). Differenttypes of identification elements may be attached to the multiple typesof antibodies AB. Multiple types of enzymes may be attached to themultiple types of antibodies AB respectively.

The providing of the multiple types of antibodies AB may includeproviding multiple types of antibodies AB contained in a single patch PAto the plate PL. The providing of the multiple types of antibodies ABmay include providing multiple types of antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing a plurality of patches PA. The plurality of patches PA may includea first patch PA and a second patch PA, and the providing of themultiple types of antibodies AB by using the plurality of patches PA mayinclude providing first antibodies AB by using the first patch PA andproviding second antibodies AB by using the second patch PA. In thiscase, the first antibodies AB and the second antibodies AB may bedifferent from each other. The providing of the multiple types ofantibodies AB by using the plurality of patches PA may be performedusing a plurality of patches PA which respectively contain the multipletypes of antibodies AB.

The providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PAmay include providing the antibodies AB to a plurality of dividedregions of the plate PL with a single patch PA. The plurality of regionsmay include a first region and a second region, and the providing of theantibodies AB to the plurality of regions may include providing firstantibodies AB to the first region by using a first patch PA thatcontains the first antibodies AB and providing second antibodies AB tothe second region by using a second patch PA that contains the secondantibodies AB. The providing of the antibodies AB to the plurality ofregions may include providing different antibodies AB to the pluralityof regions with the plurality of patches PA.

The providing of the multiple types of antibodies AB to the plate PL byusing the plurality of patches PA may include simultaneously contactingthe plurality of patches PA with the plate PL for at least a certainamount of time so that the antibodies AB contained in each of thepatches PA are provided to the plate PL. The providing of the multipletypes of antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the plurality of patchesPA may include sequentially contacting the plurality of patches PA withthe plate PL such that regions of the plate PL that sequentially comeinto contact with the plurality of patches PA at least partiallyoverlap, and the antibodies AB contained in each of the patches PA areprovided to the plate PL.

The method of performing immunoassay for detecting a plurality oftargets by direct ELISA may include providing a substrate SU by using apatch PA or determining a presence of each of a plurality of targetsfrom the plate PL. Details of each step may be similar to thosedescribed above with reference to the embodiment of the immunoassaymethod using direct ELISA.

4.3.4.3 Sandwich+Multi-Target

According to an embodiment of the present application, an immunoassaymethod for detecting a plurality of targets using sandwich ELISAdescribed above may include fixating antibodies AB on the plate PL,applying a sample SA on the plate PL, and providing the antibodies AB tothe plate PL by using a patch PA.

The fixating of the antibodies AB on the plate PL may include fixatingmultiple types of antibodies AB on the plate PL. The multiple types ofantibodies AB may include first antibodies AB which have a property ofbinding specifically to first antigens to be detected and secondantibodies AB which have a property of binding specifically to secondantigens to be detected. The multiple types of antibodies AB may bemultiple types of antibodies AB that have properties of respectivelybinding specifically to multiple types of antigens to be detected.

The first antibodies AB may be fixated on a first region located on theplate PL, and the second antibodies AB may be fixated on a second regionlocated on the plate PL. The multiple types of antibodies AB may berespectively fixated on a plurality of divided regions located on theplate PL. The multiple types of antibodies AB may be fixated on a singleregion located on the plate PL.

The applying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include applying thesample SA on a region of the plate PL on which the antibodies AB arefixated. The applying of the sample SA may include applying aliquid-phase sample SA. In this case, the immunoassay may be performedwhile the liquid-phase sample SA is applied or performed after theliquid-phase sample SA is applied and fixated.

The applying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include applying thesample SA on a single region located on the plate PL or applying thesample SA on a first region and a second region located on the plate PL.The applying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include applying thesample SA on a single region located on the plate PL or applying thesample SA on each of a plurality of divided regions located on the platePL.

The applying of the antibodies AB on the plate PL by using the patch maybe similar to those in the above-described immunoassay method fordetecting a plurality of targets by using direct ELISA and immunoassaymethod for detecting a plurality of targets by using indirect ELISA. Inother words, the applying of the antibodies AB on the plate PL by usingthe patch PA may be similar to the providing of the multiple types ofantibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PA in theabove-described immunoassay method for detecting a plurality of targetsusing direct ELISA. Alternatively, the applying of the antibodies AB tothe plate PL by using the patch PA may be similar to the providing ofthe multiple types of primary antibodies AB to the plate PL and theproviding of the secondary antibodies AB to the plate PL by using thepatch PA in the above-described immunoassay method for detecting aplurality of targets using indirect ELISA.

The method of performing immunoassay for detecting a plurality oftargets by sandwich ELISA may further include providing a substrate SUby using a patch PA or determining a presence of each of a plurality oftargets from the plate PL. Details of each step may be similar to thosedescribed above with reference to the embodiment of the immunoassaymethod using sandwich ELISA or the immunoassay method for detecting aplurality of targets by indirect ELISA or direct ELISA.

As described above, according to a method of performing immunoassayaccording to the present application, a plurality of targets may bedetected at once. In this case, a plurality of targets to be detectedmay constitute a predetermined target set or may be selectivelyconfigured every time diagnosis is performed. When the plurality oftargets constitute a predetermined set, diagnosis may become prompt, andvarious control groups may be acquired. When the plurality of targetsare selectively configured every time diagnosis is performed, it isexpected that patient-specific diagnosis would be possible, and therange of diseases that may be examined with one diagnosis would bewidened further.

4.3.4.4 Plate: Plurality of Regions

A method of performing immunoassay according to the present embodimentmay be performed using a plate PL having a plurality of unit regions. Inother words, the plate PL may have a plurality of unit regions andreceive a substance from the patch PA through each of the unit regions.

The plate PL may include a plurality of divided regions, that is, aplurality of unit regions. The unit regions may be arranged in acheckerboard form on the plate PL. The unit regions may be disposed inparallel in one direction on the plate PL. The unit regions may bedisposed in the form that corresponds to the plurality of patches PA orthe patch PA cluster.

The plurality of unit regions may be partitioned. The unit regions mayinclude a first region and a second region. In this case, the firstregion and the second region may have similar polarities, and thepolarity of the first region may be different from a polarity of a thirdregion other than the first region or the second region. Accordingly,the first region and the second region may be partitioned from eachother. Heights of the first region and the second region from anundersurface of the plate PL may be different from a height of the thirdregion from the undersurface of the plate PL, and accordingly, the firstregion and the second region may be partitioned from each other.

Different substances may be applied or fixated on different unitregions. The unit regions may include a first unit region and a secondunit region, antibodies AB that bind specifically to first antigens maybe fixated on the first unit region, and antibodies AB that bindspecifically to second antigens may be fixated on the second unitregion. The first antigens and the second antigens may be different fromeach other. Antibodies AB that bind specifically to different antigensmay be fixated on the unit regions. The unit regions to which differentantibodies AB are bound may be used in detecting different antigens withsandwich ELISA.

When immunoassay is performed using the plurality of patches PA or thepatch PA cluster, the unit regions may include a first unit region and asecond unit region, a first patch may be brought into contact with thefirst unit region, and a second patch PA may be brought into contactwith the second unit region. The first patch PA and the second patch PAmay be different from each other. Different patches PA may come intocontact with the unit regions. In other words, the arrangements, forms,and the like of unit patches PA that constitute the patch PA cluster andthe unit regions located on the plate PL may correspond to each other.The patches PA and the unit regions may be suitably matched in order toacquire a desired result.

4.3.4.5 Patch: Cluster

A method of performing immunoassay according to the present embodimentmay be performed using a plurality of patches PA. The plurality ofpatches PA may contain a substance and provide the substance to theplate PL.

The plurality of patches PA may contain different substances and providethe substances contained therein to the plate PL. For example, theplurality of patches PA may contain antibodies AB that bind specificallyto different antigens. As another example, the plurality of patches PAmay contain secondary antibodies AB that bind specifically to differentprimary antibodies AB. As yet another example, the plurality of patchesPA may contain substrates SU, reactions of which are induced bydifferent enzymes.

The plurality of patches PA may form a patch PA cluster. For example,the plurality of patches PA may be a cluster of unit patches PA whichcontain different substances. The cluster may be used to simultaneouslyprovide substances to the plate PL. The plurality of unit patches PAwhich constitute the patch PA cluster may be manufactured in astandardized form.

The patch PA cluster may be manufactured in a form of a cartridge. Inother words, the configuration of the plurality of unit patches PA whichconstitute the patch PA cluster may be changed according to purposes.The patch cartridge may be particularly useful when it is desired toimplement personalized diagnosis in which a target disease to bediagnosed is changed for each individual.

The unit patches PA which constitute the patch PA cluster may bearranged in a checkerboard form. The unit patches PA which constitutethe patch PA cluster may be disposed in parallel in one direction.

According to an embodiment of the present application, a patch PAcluster that includes a plurality of patches PA may be provided.Particularly, a patch PA cluster that includes a plurality of antibodyAB-containing patches PA may be provided.

In the patch PA cluster including the plurality of antibodyAB-containing patches PA, the antibody AB-containing patch PA mayinclude antibodies AB that react specifically with target proteins TPand a mesh structural body NS forming micro-cavities in which theantibodies AB are contained.

In this case, the plurality of antibody AB-containing patches PA mayinclude a first antibody AB-containing patch PA and a second antibodyAB-containing patch PA, and target proteins TP with which firstantibodies AB, which are contained in the first antibody AB-containingpatch PA, react specifically may be different from target proteins TPwith which second antibodies AB, which are contained in the secondantibody AB-containing patch PA, react specifically.

4.3.4.6 Patch: Blend Patch

A method of performing immunoassay according to the present embodimentmay be performed using a patch PA that contains multiple types ofsubstances. The patch PA may contain multiple types of substances andprovide the multiple types of substances to the plate PL.

The patch PA may contain first antibodies AB that bind specifically tofirst antigens and second antibodies AB that bind specifically to secondantigens. Also, the patch PA may include first antibodies AB that bindspecifically to first primary antibodies AB and second antibodies ABthat bind specifically to second primary antibodies AB. For example, thepatch PA may contain multiple types of antibodies AB that respectivelybind specifically to multiple types of antigens. Also, for example, thepatch PA may contain multiple types of antibodies AB that respectivelybind specifically to multiple types of primary antibodies AB.

An antibody AB-containing patch PA according to an embodiment of thepresent application may include antibodies AB that react specificallywith target proteins TP and a mesh structural body NS provided as a meshstructural body NS which is configured to come into contact with areaction region in which the target proteins TP are located so as toprovide some of the contained antibodies AB to the reaction region. Inthis case, multiple target proteins TP may be present, the multipletarget proteins TP may include first target proteins TP and secondtarget proteins TP, and the antibodies AB may include first antibodiesAB which react specifically with the first target proteins TP and secondantibodies AB which react specifically with the second target proteinsTP.

4.3.5 Smearing

A method of performing immunoassay of the present application mayinclude applying a sample SA on a plate PL or applying and fixating thesample SA on the plate PL.

The applying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include smearing thesample SA in a monolayer or in a form of a thin film that similar to themonolayer. The applying and fixating of the sample SA on the plate PLmay include smearing the sample SA in a monolayer or in a form of a thinfilm that corresponds to the monolayer and fixating the sample SA.

When diagnosis is performed with a sample SA being smeared in a formcorresponding to a monolayer as described above, an effective surfacearea between the sample SA smeared on the plate PL and patches PA whichare brought into contact with the plate PL may be maximized. In otherwords, by smearing the sample SA and contacting the patch PA with thesample SA to perform target detection, an effective result may beacquired even with a small amount of sample SA. A reaction region may bevery simply implemented in comparison to conventional immunoassaymethods in which a region in which a sample SA is distributed iscomplexly designed to expand an effective surface area.

4.3.6 Reaction Detection

An immunoassay method according to the present application may includedetecting a presence of target proteins TP from a sample SA. Theimmunoassay method according to the present application may includedetecting a presence of target antigens from the sample SA. Thedetecting of the presence of the target proteins TP or the targetantigens may refer to quantitatively measuring the amount of targetproteins TP or target antigens included in the sample SA.

The immunoassay method according to the present application may includedetecting antigens (that is, target antigens) to which antibodies ABhave bound specifically, and the detecting of the antigens may includedetecting a chemical reaction of a substrate SU catalyzed by enzymesattached to the antibodies AB or other antibodies AB, which bindspecifically to the antibodies AB, or a product PD due to the chemicalreaction.

4.3.6.1 Colorimetric Measurement

In the immunoassay method of the present application, the detecting ofthe chemical reaction of the substrate SU catalyzed by the enzymesattached to the antibodies AB may be performed by a method of performingcolorimetric measurement.

Specifically, the detecting of the product PD by a colorimetrictechnique may be understood as below. The enzymes attached to theantibodies AB (in the indirect technique, the enzymes attached to thesecondary antibodies AB) may convert the substrate SU into aprecipitation that exhibits color. When the precipitation isaccumulated, a stain may be formed, and color of the formed stain may bemeasured to detect the product PD.

When the enzymes are HRPs and 3,3′-Diaminobenzidine (DAB) is used as thesubstrate SU, the DAB may generate a brown precipitation due to theHRPs. Also, when the enzymes are HRPs and the substrate SU is4-chloro-1-naphthol (4CN), the 4CN may generate a violet precipitationdue to the HCNs. When the enzymes are APs and the substrate SU is5-Bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate (BCIP), the BCIP may generate aviolet precipitation due to the APs. In this case, the detecting of theproduct PD may be performed by detecting the brown or violetprecipitation.

The measuring of the color may be performed by using a spectrophotometerand quantitatively measuring the color development. The measuring of thecolor may be performed by detecting light that has been emitted from alight source and has passed through the plate PL. The measuring of thecolor may be performed by measuring light absorption. In this case,preferably, a plate PL which is transparent and has a flat bottom may beused.

4.3.6.2 Luminescence Detection

In the immunoassay method of the present application, the detecting ofthe chemical reaction of the substrate SU catalyzed by the enzymesattached to the antibodies AB may be performed by detectingluminescence.

The detecting of the luminescence may include detecting luminescence dueto the chemical reaction of the substrate SU. When the enzymes are HRPs,the detecting of the luminescence may include using luminol as thesubstrate SU to detect light generated.

The detecting of the luminescence may be performed using an X-ray film,a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) camera, or a chargecoupled device (CCD) camera. The measuring of the luminescence may beperformed by detecting light emitted from the bottom of the plate PL ora solution above the bottom of the plate PL. The measuring of theluminescence may be performed using a luminometer. When the luminescenceis measured, preferably, an opaque black plate or an opaque white platemay be used as the plate PL.

4.3.6.3 Fluorescence Detection

In the immunoassay method of the present application, the detecting ofthe product PD due to the chemical reaction of the substrate SUcatalyzed by the enzymes attached to the antibodies AB may be performedby detecting fluorescence.

The detecting of the fluorescence may include detecting fluorescenceemitted from fluorophores attached to the antibodies AB (in the indirecttechnique, the secondary antibodies AB). The detecting of thefluorescence may include detecting fluorescence emitted from the productPD which is produced due to the chemical reaction of the substrate SUcatalyzed by the enzymes. More specifically, the enzymes may cutphosphate groups from the substrate SU and catalyze the substrate SU togenerate a fluorescent product PD, and the immunoassay may be performedby detecting the generated fluorescence.

The detecting of the fluorescence may be performed by making light beincident on the plate PL and measuring fluorescence emitted from theplate PL. The measuring of the fluorescence may be performed using afluorometer to which a filter is attached. When the fluorescence ismeasured, preferably, an opaque black plate or an opaque white plate maybe used as the plate PL.

4.3.6.4 Electrochemical (EC) Sensor

Result detection in an immunoassay of the present application may alsobe performed using an electrochemical method. For example, a change inan electrochemical characteristic that occurs on the plate PL due to theantibodies AB that have bound specifically to the sample SA fixated onthe plate PL may be measured. Alternatively, a change in anelectrochemical characteristic of the patch PA that occurs due to thepatch PA providing the antibodies AB to the plate PL may also bemeasured. When a result is detected using an electrochemical method asdescribed above, the substrate SU may be selectively provided on theplate PL

4.3.6.5 Image Analysis

Result detection in an immunoassay according to the present applicationmay be performed using image acquisition. In other words, a colorimetric(or color development) image, a luminescence image, or a fluorescenceimage may be acquired and used in diagnosis. For the images, a singleimage of an entire region may be acquired, or partial images of theentire region may be acquired separately and the acquired images of thepartial images may be combined into a single image. Positions at whichtarget antigens/antibodies AB are distributed, shape of cells,distribution of target proteins TP in a tissue, or the like may bechecked from the acquired images. Also, by analyzing the acquiredimages, positions of target proteins TP, target antigens/antibodies AB,or the like and partial images of the targets may be acquired.

4.3.7 Cell Counting

Result detection in an immunoassay according to the present applicationmay be performed by measuring an amount of specific proteins included ina sample SA. In other words, immunoassay of the present application mayinclude measuring an amount of target proteins TP, which are included ina sample SA to be diagnosed, by using an antigen-antibody reaction. Forexample, result detection in an immunoassay according to the presentapplication may include counting the number of specific cells (that is,target cells) included in a sample SA to be diagnosed.

Immunoassay according to an embodiment of the present application may beperformed to detect multiple target proteins TP by using a patch of thepresent application. In this case, an immunoassay method according to anembodiment of the present application may include placing a sample SA tobe diagnosed in a reaction region (S20), providing first antibodies tothe reaction region (S30), and providing second antibodies to thereaction region (S40) (see FIG. 46 ).

The placing of the sample SA to be diagnosed in the reaction region(S20) may be similar to that in other embodiments described above. Also,details of the providing of the first antibodies or the secondantibodies to the reaction region may be similar to those in theabove-described other embodiments of the present application.

The providing of the first antibodies to the reaction region (S30) mayinclude using a patch that contains the first antibodies which reactspecifically with first target proteins so as to provide the firstantibodies to the reaction region.

The providing of the second antibodies to the reaction region (S40) mayinclude using a patch that contains the second antibodies which reactspecifically with second target proteins so as to provide the secondantibodies to the reaction region.

The immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may furtherinclude detecting first target proteins TP and second target proteins TP(S50) (see FIG. 81 ).

In the detecting of the first target proteins TP and the second targetproteins TP (S50), the detecting of the first target proteins mayinclude detecting first fluorescence that is detected from fluorescencelabels attached to the first antibodies bound specifically to the firsttarget proteins TP, and the detecting of the second target proteins TPmay include detecting second fluorescence that is detected fromfluorescence labels attached to the second antibodies bound specificallyto the second target proteins TP.

In this case, a wavelength band from which the first fluorescence isdetected may be different from a wavelength band from which the secondfluorescence is detected.

An immunoassay method according to the present embodiment may includeplacing a sample SA to be diagnosed in a reaction region (S20),providing first antibodies to the reaction region (S30), detecting firsttarget proteins TP (S51), providing second antibodies to the reactionregion (S40), and detecting second target proteins TP (S52) (see FIG. 82).

In other words, the immunoassay method according to the presentapplication may further include, after the providing of the firstantibodies to the reaction region (S30), the detecting of the firsttarget proteins (S51), and also include, after the providing of thesecond antibodies to the reaction region (S40), the detecting of thesecond target proteins (S53).

In this case, the detecting of the first target proteins TP may includedetecting first fluorescence that is detected from fluorescence labelsattached to the first antibodies bound specifically to the first targetproteins TP, and the detecting of the second target proteins TP mayinclude detecting second fluorescence that is detected from fluorescencelabels attached to the second antibodies bound specifically to thesecond target proteins TP.

Here, a wavelength band from which the first fluorescence is detectedmay at least partially overlap a wavelength band from which the secondfluorescence is detected, and the detecting of the fluorescence may beperformed by comparing fluorescence that is detected from the sample SAafter the second antibodies are provided to the reaction region andfluorescence that is detected from the sample SA before the secondantibodies are provided to the reaction region.

FIGS. 83 and 84 schematically illustrate a part of a case in whichmultiple target proteins TP are detected in an immunoassay methodaccording to the present application. Description with reference to theflowchart in FIG. 81 will be given below.

In immunoassay according to an embodiment of the present application,target proteins TP included in a sample may include first targetproteins TP1 and second target proteins TP2. In this case, as describedabove with reference to FIG. 82 , after the first antibodies areprovided to the reaction region (S30), and the first target proteins TP1are detected (S51), first fluorescence may be detected from fluorescencelabels attached to the first antibodies bound to the first targetproteins TP1 (see FIG. 83 ).

Also, when, as illustrated in FIG. 82 , the second antibodies areprovided (S40) and the second target proteins TP2 are detected (S52),second fluorescence may be detected from fluorescence labels attached tothe second antibodies bound to the second target proteins TP2. In thiscase, when a wavelength band from which the first fluorescence isdetected and a wavelength band from which the second fluorescence isdetected partially overlap, the first fluorescence may be detected in anoverlapping manner during detection of the second fluorescence, and thismay cause detection of the second target proteins TP2 to be difficult.In such a case, the detecting of the second fluorescence may includecomparing fluorescence detected from the sample after the secondantibodies are provided to the reaction region and fluorescence detectedfrom the sample before the second antibodies are provided to thereaction region, and performing detection of the second target proteinsTP2.

The sequential detection of multiple target proteins TP by usingfluorescent substances which are detected from overlapping wavelengthbands as described above (that is, the same type of fluorescentsubstances) and simultaneous detection of multiple target proteins TP byusing fluorescent substances which are detected from differentwavelength bands (that is, different types of fluorescent substances)may not necessarily be performed independently. Therefore, theabove-described embodiments may be combined and multiple target proteinsTP may be detected in a single process, and this may be usefully appliedin promptly diagnosing various diseases.

Hereinafter, as an embodiment of result detection in an immunoassayaccording to the present application, a method of counting the number oftarget cells included in a sample SA to be diagnosed will be described.

According to a method of counting cells according to the presentembodiment, cell counting may be performed for a sample SA applied on anobject having a surface-type reaction region, such as a plate PL, or fora sample SA applied and fixated on the object. According to the presentembodiment, cell counting, which has been conventionally performeddepending on high-performance equipment which is mostly hydrodynamicallydesigned, may also be performed using a simplified apparatus with areduced size.

4.3.7.1 Fundamental Embodiment

As an example of immunoassay according to the present application, acell counting method may include fixating a sample SA on a plate PL,providing antibodies AB to the plate PL by using a patch PA thatcontains the antibodies AB which react specifically with target cells,and acquiring the number of target cells included in the sample SA.

The fixating of the sample SA on the plate PL may be similar to that inthe above-described immunoassay methods.

The providing of the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using the patch PAthat contains the antibodies AB which react specifically with the targetcells may include providing the antibodies AB to the plate PL by using apatch PA that contains the antibodies AB that have a property of bindingspecifically to some proteins included in the target cells. In otherwords, the antibodies AB which specifically bind to some proteins thatform the target cells may be provided to the plate PL through the patchPA.

The acquiring of the number of target cells included in the sample SAmay be performed by a method of detecting fluorescence labeled on theantibodies AB. The acquiring of the number of target cells may beperformed by a method of detecting a chemical reaction of a substrate SUcatalyzed by enzymes attached to the antibodies AB or a product PDproduced due to the chemical reaction.

The acquiring of the number of target cells included in the sample SAmay be performed by acquiring an image of a region on the plate PL inwhich the target cells are distributed. The acquiring of the number oftarget cells may be performed by acquiring an image of the region inwhich the sample SA is distributed and detecting the target cells fromthe image. In other words, the acquiring of the number of target cellsincluded in the sample SA may include acquiring only numericalinformation on the cells from a measured signal strength or the like oracquiring an image of a region in which the target cells are distributedor an image of the target cells.

4.3.7.2 Detection of a Plurality of Targets

In the cell counting method according to the embodiment, the counting ofthe number of cells may be simultaneously performed for a plurality oftarget cells. Here, the simultaneous performance may refer that thenumber of plurality of target cells may be counted using a single platePL. Alternatively, the simultaneous performance may refer that it may beperformed on a sample SA located in a single reaction region.

A patch PA may contain first antibodies AB which react specifically withfirst target cells and second antibodies AB which react specificallywith second target cells. A first fluorescent substance may be labeledon the first antibodies AB, and a second fluorescent substance may belabeled on the second antibodies AB. In this case, fluorescence emittedfrom the first fluorescent substance and fluorescence emitted from thesecond fluorescent substance may be detected from different wavelengthbands.

4.3.7.3 Method of Using a Plurality of Patches

The above-described cell counting method may be performed on a pluralityof target cells by using a plurality of patches PA.

The cell counting method using the plurality of patches PA may includefixating a sample SA on a plate PL, using a first patch PA that containsfirst antibodies AB which react specifically with first target cells toprovide the first antibodies AB to the plate PL, and using a secondpatch PA that contains first antibodies AB which react specifically withsecond target cells to provide the second antibodies AB to the plate PL.

The cell counting method may include, after the providing of the firstantibodies AB to the plate PL and before the providing of the secondantibodies AB to the plate PL, obtaining the number of the first targetcells included in the sample SA.

The cell counting method may include, after the providing of the secondantibodies AB to the plate PL, obtaining the number of the second targetcells included in the sample SA. In other words, after the firstantibodies AB are provided to the plate PL, the number of the firsttarget cells may be obtained, and after the second antibodies AB areprovided to the plate PL, the number of second target cells may beobtained.

The cell counting method may include, after the providing of the secondantibodies AB to the plate PL, obtaining the number of the first targetcells and the number of the second target cells included in the sampleSA. In other words, the number of the first target cells and the secondtarget cells may be obtained after the first antibodies AB and thesecond antibodies AB are provided to the plate PL.

The obtaining of the number of the first target cells or the number ofthe second target cells may be similar to the obtaining of the number oftarget cells included in the sample SA in the above-described embodimentof the cell counting method.

However, when cell counting is performed for a plurality of target cellsby using a plurality of patches PA as in the present embodiment, afluorescent substance labeled to the first target cells and afluorescent substance labeled to the second target cells may be of thesame type. In other words, a wavelength band from which a fluorescentsubstance labeled to the first target cells is detected and a wavelengthband from which a fluorescent substance labeled to the second targetcells is detected may partially overlap. In this case, while the numberof the first target cells is obtained after the first antibodies AB areprovided to the plate PL and the number of the second target cells isobtained after the second antibodies AB are provided to the plate PL,the obtaining of the number of the second target cells may be performedby comparing fluorescence detected for obtaining the number of the firsttarget cells and fluorescence detected for obtaining the number of thesecond target cells.

4.3.7.4 Plurality of Patches

The cell counting method for a plurality of target cells according tothe embodiment may be performed using a plurality of patches PA.

In other words, the plurality of target cells may include first targetcells and second target cells, and the plurality of patches PA mayinclude a first patch PA that contains first antibodies AB and a secondpatch PA that contains second antibodies AB. In this case, the firstantibodies AB may bind specifically to proteins expressed specificallyin first target cells, and the second antibodies AB may bindspecifically to proteins expressed specifically in second target cells.

4.3.8 Immunoassay Device

Immunoassay of the present application may be performed using animmunoassay method.

FIG. 78 illustrates an immunoassay device 10 according to an embodimentof the present application

The immunoassay device according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may include a plate PL supporter 200, a patch controller300, and a reaction detector 400. The immunoassay device according tothe present embodiment may perform diagnosis by detecting targetproteins TP from a sample SA to be diagnosed by using a patch whichincludes a mesh structural body NS forming micro-cavities and isconfigured to contain a liquid substance SB in the micro-cavities.

The plate PL supporter 200 of the immunoassay device may support a plateon which a reaction region is located and a sample SA to be diagnosed islocated in the reaction region.

The patch controller 300 may use a patch PA that contains antibodies ABwhich react specifically with the target proteins TP and control aposition of the patch PA relative to the reaction region so thatantibodies AB are provided to the reaction region.

The reaction detector 400 may detect a specific reaction between theantibodies AB and the target proteins TP to diagnose a target disease.

Also, the immunoassay device may further include a controller 100.

The immunoassay device may include a mesh structural body NA formingmicro-cavities and use a patch PA capable of containing a liquidsubstance SB in the micro-cavities to detect target proteins TP from asample SA to be diagnosed and perform diagnosis.

The immunoassay device may include a plate PL supporter configured tosupport a plate PL on which a reaction region is located and a sample SAto be diagnosed is located in the reaction region, a patch controllerconfigured to use a patch PA, which contains antibodies AB which reactspecifically with target proteins TP and control a position of the patchPA relative to the reaction region so that the antibodies AB areprovided to the reaction region, and a reaction detector configured todetect a specific reaction between the antibodies AB and the targetproteins TP to diagnose a target disease.

FIG. 79 illustrates an example of the patch controller 300 in anembodiment of the immunoassay device 10 according to the presentapplication.

In the immunoassay device 10 according to an embodiment of the presentapplication, the patch controller 300 may include a patch selectionmodule 310 and a contact control module 330.

The patch selection module 310 may select a patch PA to be controlled.The selection of the patch PA to be controlled by the patch selector mayinclude selecting at least one of a patch PA that contains primaryantibodies AB, a patch PA that contains secondary antibodies AB, a patchPA that contains a substrate SU, a washing patch PA, or a patch cluster.

The contact control module 330 may control a state of contact between aselected patch PA and a reaction region. The controlling of the contactstate may include controlling a position of the patch PA relative to thereaction region.

The reaction detector 400 may be any one of an optical detector and anelectrochemical detector.

The reaction detector may include an image acquisition module. Thereaction detector may include a camera module. The reaction detector mayacquire partial images of a reaction region. The reaction detector maycombine the acquired partial images. The reaction detector may acquire asingle image of a reaction region. The reaction detector may acquirepartial images of the reaction region or a single image of the reactionregion, and the combining of the partial images may be performed by animage processing module.

5. Clinical Chemistry 5.1 Meaning 5.1.1 Clinical Chemistry

Although immunoassay refers to diagnosis using antigen-antibody binding,applications of a patch PA are not limited thereto, and the patch PA mayalso be applied in similar fields in which diagnosis is performed usinga specific interaction.

Particularly, application of a patch PA may be expanded similarly to theclinical chemistry diagnostic field in which diagnosis is performed onbodily fluid as a sample SA by using a specific reaction. Clinicalchemistry is one specific field of laboratory medicine and refers toperforming diagnosis on bodily fluid in particular. Bodily fluid referto liquid components collected from the human body such as blood, urine,cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), tears, and nasal mucus, and also includes pusand effusion.

The specific interaction used in the diagnosis encompasses various formsof chemical and biochemical reactions. For example, a factor whichindicates a presence of disease may be detected using a diagnosticreagent, or a concentration of a specific component in the blood may bemeasured to determine normality. Also, for example, an enzyme-substratereaction may be used, or an activity of enzymes may be measured.

A diagnosis result may be acquired by detecting the specificinteraction. In detecting the specific interaction, colorimetricmeasurement, color development detection, fluorescence detection, andelectrochemical detection may be usefully utilized.

5.1.2 Relationship with Immunoassay

The above-described method of performing immunoassay using a patch PAmay also be performed similarly in clinical chemistry diagnosis. Inother words, since clinical chemistry diagnosis may also be performed ona plate PL and performed using the patch PA, the same advantageouseffects as the immunoassay may be expected.

For example, diagnosis may also be performed by applying or smearing asample SA on the plate PL in performance of clinical chemistrydiagnosis. Consequently, since an effective contact surface area ismaximized, a diagnosis result with sufficient validity may be expectedeven with a small amount of sample SA. Also, since the clinicalchemistry diagnosis may be performed using the patch PA, it is extremelyeasy to pour a reagent which is involved in target detection onto theplate PL on which the target detection process is performed and removethe reagent from the plate PL. Therefore, an amount of reagents used inthe detection and time taken for diagnosis may be saved.

5.2 Embodiments of Clinical Chemistry 5.2.1 Hormone Detection

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be used in hormone detection.

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be performed by applying a sample SA on a plate PL,providing a reagent to the plate PL by using a patch PA, and detecting atarget hormone from the sample SA.

The sample SA applied on the plate PL may be blood or urine. Theapplying of the sample SA on the plate PL may include applying thesample SA on the plate PL and fixating the sample SA. Some reagents thatare involved in the hormone detection may be placed on the plate PL inadvance.

The detecting of the target hormone may include detecting cortisol inaccordance with the Porter-Silber technique. The detecting of the targethormone may include detecting any one of a follicle-stimulating hormone(FSH), an adrenocorticot-ropin hormone (ACTH), a growth hormone (GH), athyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and a thyroid hormone (T4).

The detecting of the target hormone may include detecting a reactionbetween a target hormone present in the sample SA and a reagent providedto the sample SA. The detecting of the reaction may be performed usingany one of a colorimetric technique, fluorescence detection,luminescence detection, and an electrochemical sensor.

5.2.2 Cholesterol

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be used in measuring cholesterol in the blood. In thiscase, an enzyme technique may be used.

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be performed by applying a sample SA on a plate PL,providing a reagent to the plate PL by using a patch PA, and measuringcholesterol content from the sample SA.

The sample SA applied on the plate PL may be serums. The applying of thesample SA on the plate PL may include applying the sample SA on theplate PL and fixating the sample SA. Some reagents used in thecholesterol detection may be placed on the plate PL in advance.

The reagent provided to the plate PL by using the patch PA may be anenzyme reagent. The enzyme reagent may include at least some of4-aminoantipyrine (4AA), peroxidase, cholesterol esterase, andcholesterol oxidase.

The detecting of the cholesterol content may include measuring a levelof light absorption.

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to another embodiment of thepresent application may be performed using an enzyme technique inmeasuring triglyceride in the blood.

A sample SA may be applied on the plate PL, a reagent may be provided tothe plate PL by using a patch PA, and a triglyceride content may bemeasured from the sample SA.

The sample SA applied on the plate PL may be serums. The reagentprovided to the plate PL by using the patch PA may be an enzyme reagent.The enzyme reagent may include at least some of glycerol kinase, lipase,phenol, 4-aminoantipyrine, peroxidase, and pyruvate kinase.

The detecting of the cholesterol content may include measuring a levelof light absorption.

5.2.3 Blood Glucose Measurement

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be used in measuring a concentration of a specificcomponent contained in a sample SA. The specific component of which aconcentration is to be measured may be blood glucose.

Clinical chemistry diagnosis according to an embodiment of the presentapplication may be performed by applying a sample SA on a plate PL,providing a reagent to the plate PL by using a patch PA, and measuringan amount of glucose included in blood, that is, blood glucose, from areaction due to the reagent. In this case, an enzyme technique may beused.

The sample SA applied on the plate PL may be any one of whole blood,plasmas, serums, urine, CSF, and a pleural effusion fluid. The reagentprovided to the plate PL may include any one of glucose oxidase andhexokinase.

The measuring of the blood glucose may be performed by measuring aresult of a pigment reaction of a reaction due to the reagent. Themeasuring of the blood glucose may be performed using a reflectancelight intensity measurement technique or an electrochemical measurer.

The above description is merely illustrative of the technical spirit ofthe present disclosure, and those of ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present disclosure pertains should be able to make variousmodifications and changes within a scope not departing from essentialcharacteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, theabove-described embodiments of the present disclosure may also beimplemented separately or in combination.

The embodiments disclosed herein are for describing the technical spiritof the present disclosure instead of limiting the same, and the scope ofthe technical spirit of the present disclosure is not limited by suchembodiments. The scope of the present disclosure should be interpretedon the basis of the claims below, and all technical spirits within theequivalent scope should be interpreted as belonging to the scope of thepresent disclosure.

1. An antibody-containing patch comprising: antibodies that reactspecifically with a target protein; and a mesh structural body providedin a mesh structure forming micro-cavities in which the antibodies arecontained that is configured to come into contact with a reaction regionin which the target protein is placed and provide some of the containedantibodies to the reaction region.
 2. The antibody-containing patch ofclaim 1, wherein the antibodies that react specifically with the targetprotein are primary antibodies which specifically bind to a targetantigen.
 3. The antibody-containing patch of claim 1, wherein theantibodies that react specifically with the target protein are secondaryantibodies which specifically bind to antibodies which have a propertyof binding specifically to a target antigen.
 4. The antibody-containingpatch of claim 1, wherein: the target protein is an antigen; theantibodies are a pair of antibodies formed by binding of a primaryantibody which specifically binds to the antigen and a secondaryantibody which specifically binds to the primary antibody; and the pairof antibodies react specifically with the antigen.
 5. Theantibody-containing patch of claim 1, wherein: the target protein isplural; the plurality of target protein include a first target proteinand a second target protein; and the antibodies include a first antibodythat reacts specifically with the first target protein and a secondantibody that reacts specifically with the second target protein.
 6. Apatch cluster comprising a plurality of antibody-containing patches,wherein the antibody-containing patch includes antibodies which reactspecifically with a target protein and a mesh structural body formingmicro-cavities in which the antibodies are contained.
 7. The patchcluster of claim 6, wherein the plurality of antibody-containing patchesinclude a first antibody-containing patch and a secondantibody-containing patch, and a target protein with which a firstantibody contained in the first antibody-containing patch reactsspecifically is different from a target protein with which a secondantibody contained in the second antibody-containing patch reactsspecifically.
 8. An immunoassay method for performing diagnosis bydetecting a target protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using apatch which includes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities andis configured to contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, theimmunoassay method comprising: placing the sample to be diagnosed in areaction region; and providing antibodies that react specifically with atarget protein to the reaction region by using a patch that contains theantibodies.
 9. The immunoassay method of claim 8, further comprising:providing a substrate, which produces a product through a chemicalreaction catalyzed by an enzyme attached to the antibodies, to thereaction region by using a patch that contains the substrate.
 10. Theimmunoassay method of claim 8, further comprising detecting a specificreaction between the antibodies and the target protein to diagnose atarget disease.
 11. The immunoassay method of claim 10, wherein thedetecting of the specific reaction includes detecting the specificreaction by measuring a change in an electrical characteristic of thepatch that occurs due to the specific reaction.
 12. The immunoassaymethod of claim 10, wherein the detecting of the specific reaction isperformed by any one of measuring fluorescence that occurs due to achemical reaction catalyzed by an enzyme attached to the antibodies thatbind specifically to the target protein, measuring luminescence thatoccurs due to the chemical reaction, and measuring color that developsdue to the chemical reaction.
 13. The immunoassay method of claim 8,wherein the placing of the sample to be diagnosed is performed by anyone of a method of fixating the sample to the plate, a method ofsmearing the sample on the plate, and a method of smearing the sample onthe plate and fixating the sample.
 14. The immunoassay method of claim8, wherein the providing of the antibodies to the reaction region byusing the patch includes contacting the patch with the reaction regionso that the antibodies are movable to the reaction region, andseparating the patch from the reaction region, wherein, when the patchis separated from the reaction region, antibodies that have not reactedspecifically with the target protein among the antibodies are removedfrom the reaction region.
 15. The immunoassay method of claim 8, furthercomprising absorbing antibodies that have not reacted specifically withthe target protein among the provided antibodies from the reactionregion by using a washing patch.
 16. The immunoassay method of claim 8,wherein the providing of the antibodies to the reaction region by usingthe patch includes: using a first patch that contains a first antibodythat reacts specifically with the target protein to provide the firstantibody to the reaction region; and using a second patch that containsa second antibody that reacts specifically with the first antibody toprovide the second antibody to the reaction region.
 17. The immunoassaymethod of claim 8, wherein: the reaction region is located on a plate;the immunoassay method further comprises, prior to the placing of thesample to be diagnosed in the reaction region, providing the plate onwhich bottom antibodies, which are antibodies that react specificallywith the target protein, are fixated on the reaction region; and theplacing of the sample to be diagnosed in the reaction region includesplacing the sample to be diagnosed in the reaction region on which thebottom antibodies are fixated.
 18. The immunoassay method of claim 8,wherein: the target protein is plural; the plurality of target proteinsinclude a first target protein and a second target protein; and thepatch contains a first antibody that reacts specifically with the firsttarget protein and a first antibody the reacts specifically with thesecond target protein.
 19. The immunoassay method of claim 8, wherein:the target protein is plural; the patch that contains the antibody is;the multiple target proteins may include a first target protein and asecond target protein; and the plurality of patches include a firstpatch that contains a first antibody that reacts specifically with thefirst target protein and a second patch that contains a second antibodythat reacts specifically with the second target protein.
 20. Animmunoassay device for performing diagnosis by detecting a targetprotein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch which includes amesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configured to containa liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassay devicecomprising: a plate supporter configured to support a plate on which areaction region is placed and a sample to be diagnosed is placed in thereaction region; a patch controller configured to use the patch, whichis configured to contain antibodies that react specifically with thetarget protein, and control a position of the patch relative to thereaction region so that the antibodies are provided to the reactionregion; and a reaction detector configured to detect a specific reactionbetween the antibodies and the target protein to diagnose a targetdisease.
 21. An immunoassay method for performing diagnosis by detectinga target protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using a patch whichincludes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities and is configuredto contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, the immunoassaymethod comprising: placing the sample to be diagnosed in a reactionregion; using a patch that contains a first antibody that reactsspecifically with a first target protein to provide the first antibodyto the reaction region; and using a patch that contains a secondantibody that reacts specifically with a second target protein toprovide the second antibody to the reaction region.
 22. The immunoassaymethod of claim 21, further comprising, after the delivering of thesecond antibody, detecting the first target protein and the secondtarget protein.
 23. The immunoassay method of claim 22, wherein: thedetecting of the first target protein includes detecting a firstfluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence label attached to thefirst antibody bound specifically to the first target protein; and thedetecting of the second target protein includes detecting a secondfluorescence that is detected from a fluorescence label attached to thesecond antibody bound specifically to the second target protein.
 24. Theimmunoassay method of claim 23, wherein a wavelength band from which thefirst fluorescence is detected and a wavelength band from which thesecond fluorescence is detected are different from each other.
 25. Theimmunoassay method of claim 21, further comprising: after the providingof the first antibody to the reaction region, detecting the first targetprotein; and after the providing of the second antibody to the reactionregion, detecting the second target protein.
 26. The immunoassay methodof claim 25, wherein: the detecting of the first target protein includesdetecting a first fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescencelabel attached to the first antibody bound specifically to the firsttarget protein; and the detecting of the second target protein includesdetecting a second fluorescence that is detected from a fluorescencelabel attached to the second antibody bound specifically to the secondtarget protein.
 27. The immunoassay method of claim 26, wherein: awavelength band from which the first fluorescence is detected overlapsat least a portion of a wavelength band from which the secondfluorescence is detected; and the detecting of the second fluorescenceis performed by comparing fluorescence detected from the sample afterthe second antibody is provided to the reaction region and fluorescencedetected from the sample before the second antibody is provided to thereaction region.
 28. An antibody providing kit comprising: a mediumwhich contains antibodies that react specifically with a target protein;and an antibody providing patch which includes a mesh structural bodyforming micro-cavities and is configured to come into contact with themedium to absorb some of the antibodies contained in the medium and comeinto contact with a reaction region in which the target protein isplaced to provide at least some of the absorbed antibodies to thereaction region.
 29. An immunoassay method for performing diagnosis bydetecting a target protein from a sample to be diagnosed by using apatch which includes a mesh structural body forming micro-cavities andis configured to contain a liquid substance in the micro-cavities, theimmunoassay method comprising: contacting a medium, which containsantibodies that react specifically with the target protein, with thepatch; and contacting the patch with a reaction region in which thetarget protein is placed, wherein, when the medium is contacted with thepatch, at least some of the antibodies contained in the medium areabsorbed into the patch.
 30. The immunoassay method of claim 29,wherein, when the patch is contacted with the reaction region, at leastsome of the antibodies absorbed into the patch are movable to thereaction region.
 31. The immunoassay method of claim 29, wherein: thecontacting of the medium with the patch includes contacting a surface ofthe medium with the patch; and the contacting of the patch with thereaction region includes contacting a surface of the patch, which is notin contact with the medium, with the reaction region.